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PAKTISAN   LEADEK: 

A    N  0  V  E  JL 

AND  AN  APOCALYPSE  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  STRUGGLES 

SOUTHERN >  RACY, 


By  Judge  BEVERLJ 

OF  VIRGINIA. 


PRTGLNALI  ISHED  I 

NOW  RE-PUBLISHED:    AND  EDITED  BY 

REV.    THOS.    A.    WARE. 


RICHMOND: 

WEST  A  JOHNSON,  145  MAIN   ST 

1862. 


* 


/  71 

frjT;  ft  13 

T1- 


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USTTKOIDXJCTIOlSr. 


It  is  said  of  Mr.  Burke  that  he  could  take  a  survey  of  the  political 
sky  and  tell  the  destiny  of  nations  for  twenty  years  to  come.  Judge 
TUCKER  has  literally  done  this,  as  far  as  the  American  people  are  con- 
cerned, as  will  be  found  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  work  before  us. 
Written  and  published  in  1836,  but  bearing  in  its  imprint  the  date  of 
1856,  and  intended  as  a  tale  of  the  future,  applying  to  the  intervening 
period,  it  has  substantially  foretold  the  great  leading  features  oS  the 
history  of  the  twenty-five  years  intervening  between  the  time  of  its  first 
publication,  and  this  eventful  era,  at  which  it  is  again  given  to  the  public. 
In  following  the  history  of  the  hero  through  the  strange  vicissitudes 
of  love,  and  Avar,  and  wild  adventure — glowing  now  with  the  roseate 
tinge  of  sentiment,  and,  anon,  with  the  fiery  hue  of  tragedy,  the  reader 
will  be  amazed  to  sec  the  incidental  mention  of  the  great  historical  facts 
which  have,  in  the  last  eighteen  months,  marked  the  disintegration  of 
a  vast  republic,  and  the  organization  and  struggles  of  a  new  one.  The 
secession  of  the  more  Southern  States — the  formation  of  the  "South- 
ern Confederacy" — the  hesitation  of  Virginia — the  arguments  which 
fifteen  months  ago  resounded,  from  the  Chesapeake  to*the  Ohio  in  fa- 
vour of  her  seceding  and  "accepting  the  invitation  to  join  the  South- 
ern Confederacy" — the  "pretext*'  on  which  the  Northern  army  *m.s- 
raised;  "the  apprehension  of  hostilities  from  the  Southern  Confedera- 
cy"— the  Avar — the  effects  of  the  blockade,  even  to  its  influence  upon 
the  article  of  Odmtnon  salt,  etc.,  etc.,  seem  as  familiar  to  the  pen  of  the 
great  political  seer,  as  if  he  had  actually  been  a  participant  "  in  the 
great  struggle"  which  he  writes,  "  I  witnessed  and  partook." 

The  reader  Avill  realize,  perhaps,  more  amusement,  though  1 
wonder,  to  see  as  thorough  appreciation'of  Yankee  character,  as  well  in 
small  things  and  in  great,  as  the  lights  and  shadows  of  twenty-five  ad- 
ditional years  of  peace  and  war  afford.  "He  surely  had  read  some  of 
McCiollan's  reports,"  was  the  playful  remark  of  an  intelligent  friend, 
as  we  read  the  account  of  Col.  Trevor's  defeat,  and  his  official  report, 
which  "lies  like  truth,  and  yet  most  truly  1 

Indeed,  so  marvellously  does  the  bonk  apply  to  recent  and  current 
events,  thai  sometimes  sketching  its  striking  passages,  with  those  who 
were  n«>t  reader--  contemporaneous  with  its  firs!  circulation,  they  have 


tioally, 

i  ]ikr  mi  clii  1  ;.  by  an  unpleasant  association 

sort  of  Thomas 
l  .  and  blaok-lettered,  artifi- 

t.i  ini]  oso  "ii   i In-  literary  world. 
will  bail  i4  as  an  <>\<\  friend,  whose  ecoentrieitiea  "in1'' 

•t.  hail 

withdi  I  himself,  that  when  by  experience,  they  dis- 

than  tlnir  wisdom/'  comes  not  promptfy, 
•!..ir  perplexity  they  call  for  him,  hut  wait-;  for  the  darkest 
hour,'  in  the  benign  ami  venerable  aspect  of  a  pro] 

of  how  these  things  most  needs  he."  ami  in 
dotation  speaking  words  of  cheer,  and  heralding   a  bright 

a  Dumber  <>f  years  unknown  who  '•  Bdwajd  "William  Sid- 
i ; id     1,  that  the  public,  has  remained  in  donbt  t<>  ■  very  re* 
I,  if  hour,  will  appear  from  the  following  quota- 

tion from  the  South  i  June  1861.     Tho  edi- 

tor, in)  a  ii"tice  of  the  "  Partisan  Leader/!  as  recently  rc-pub- 

rth,  taken  from  the  Baltimore   Exchange,  Bays:  "We 
•  ii  credit  to  the  novel  in  ques- 
f  Judge  Upshur,  of  Virginia,  who  was  killed  by  the 
i  •    ."  but  we  believe  the  Baltimore  Exchange 

ii  attributing  it  t<>  Judge  Beverley  Tucker  of  Virginia."     It 
will  be,  th<      .         itifying  to  see  this  question  sit  fully  at  rest,  as  it 
.  in  tin-  following  communication  kindly  fur- 
rnor  Montague,  of  Virginia: 

Richmohd,  July  6th,  i  - 

th   ult..  asking  im>  to  -/w  e  j  on 

p  of  a  bonk  cmllecl  •■  The  Partisan 

I  I  W  illiamsbuTg.  was  the  author 

It  cm  I  him  declare  lie-  wxote  the  I  >.  •<  <U 

!  I    .l.i    Mm   now   ri'inciii- 

H        I.  M.  Boll     iccuseJ  the  late  Judge  A.  P.  I  p- 

:t  ilisunionist,  and  n maris;  other 

.  by  Mi    l!<.;i-  t..  sustain  tin  -  charge,  u  a  well 

that  Judge   Upshur  waa  the  author  of 

I  i  :i  good  deal  hi'  interest  in 

W  in  liml  many  warm  friends  and  admin  I 

.  (  :nicl  a  member  "I" 

I   1 1 1 • .- 1 t.i  him  declare  t<>  hia  olasa 

for  w  li:iti-\  er  sins  nr  !"•!' 

i  -r  heard  him  sefer  to  the  subject.    At- 

[  have  i  rVen  heard  him 


k  nl  Richmond. 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

say  that  those  who  worn  then  deriding  him,  and  denouncing  his  book  as  a 
treasonable  production  would  live  to  see  the  day  when  they  would  acknow- 
ledge that  his  appreciation  of  the  Yankee  character  was  Correct  j  and  lamenl 
in  tears  and  blood  that  his  views  were  not  Booriet  adopted  by  the  South.     It 

was  written  by  its  great  author  to  open  tli*-  eyes  of  Virginia  and  tin-  South  to 
the  dangers  which  lie  so  cleariy  saw  just  ahead,  and  which  we  all  have  so 
keenly  felt.      Well,  well,  would  it  have  been  cduld  all  have  seen  as  he  did. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  yon  design  its  re-publication.     It  is  a  master's  work,  and 
I  have  no   doubt,  lint    that,  even  now,  it<    re-publication  will    be  productive  0$ 
Wishing  you  success  in  your  enterprise) 

I  am  hastily,  but  very  truly  vmis. 

RO.  L.  .MONTAGUE. 

Sir  Walter  Scott  was  observed  by  a  friend  to  be  noting  the  kind  of 
grafts,  flowers,  and  moss  which  grew  about  a  great  rock,  and  a  cave, 
where  be  proposed  to  lay  the  scene  of  one  of  his  novels. 

"  Why  do  you  that?"  said  the  friend,  "will  not  the  daises  and  litch- 
en  do  as  well  T' 

"No,"  said  the  great  word-painter,  "soon  your  stock  of  litchen  and 
daises  would  be  exhausted,  and  you  must  become  monotonous;  but  ad- 
here to  nature,  and  you  will  have  the  variety  of  nature." 

Not  less  scfupulotfrd}7  faithful  to  nature  has  our  author  been.  Learn- 
ing that  the  principal  scene  of  the  story  was  laid  in  Patrick  county, 
Va.,  I  determined  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  the.now  classic  region  of 
"the  Devil's  Backbone."  On  arriving  at  the  court-house,  I  was  in- 
formed that  just  such  a  locality  as  that  described,  formerly  known  by 
that  name,  but  now  more  familiarly  known  as  "Witt's  Spurr,"  was  to 
be  found  in  that  wildest  of  mountain  ranges,  which  rises  in  rugged  gran- 
deur six  miles  west  of  the  village.  I  also  learned,  through  the  cour- 
tesy of  that  accomplished  gentleman,  Hon.  W.  R.  Staples,  of  the  Con- 
federate ( longress,  that  in  1820  or  25,  Judge  Tucker  paid  a  visit  to 
that  region,  and  in  company  with  his  father,  a  soldier  friend  in  the  war 
of  1812,  spent  a  day  rambling  over  the  mountains;  and  further,  that 
"Witt"  was  a  rral  character,  and  was  probably  now  to  be  found  some- 
win  r<  in.;  distant  from  the  scene  where  the  author  first  introduces  him. 
Veering  southward  on  the  North  Carolina  road,  first  of  all  to  search  out 
this  old  hero,  at  a  distance  of  about  three  miles  from  the  Courtdmiw, 
I  rode  np  to  an  h arable  dwelling' on  the  left,  without  thought  of*else 
than  enquiring  the  way,  when  an  old  woman,  so  large,  so  out-spoken 
and  ha  .  reported  herself  in  response  to  the  call,  and  gave  the 

i  directions,  that  it  occurred  at  onoe  to  my  mind,  this  would  be 
■a  worthy  help  in. .  I  of  that  "large;  powerful  man,  of  untaught  wisdom, 
Christian  Witt."     Tin  following  colloquy  occurred  : 

"  Who  lives  here,  madam  ''" 

"  Saunders  Witt,"  with  an  independent  air  that  bespoke  pride  of  the 
name  and  place, 


IN  .  , 

'••     •' 

i  many  kinfolks  of  his  name.     II 
ap  tin-  lane  there,  and  you  can  talk  with 

I   like  it." 

When  in  n  spouse  to  my  call  he 
i.  with  scarcely  the  Bhade  of  a  doubt, 
graphic  picture;  and  waa  Bure  that  the  "Christian" 
.  tin-  author  only  because  he  had  forgotten  his  ek 
. 
'.  introducing  myself,  after  an  interchange  of  enquiries) 
which  fairl)  opened  the  way,  said  : 

"  Arc  you  relal  I  Mr.  "Witt  who  onoe  lived  at  !he  place 

.  I  harlea  Davis,  just  at  the  foot  of  the  'DeviFa  Back- 

••  I  •  ->." 

••  Do  yon  remember  anything  of  Judge  Beverley  Tucker  paying  a 

le  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  and  going  up  to  look 
at  these  mountain-  § 

"  Wl  ••  Adjutant  Tucker.     I  knowed  him  in  the  war  of 

tw<  ''  iving  then  at  my  father's,  ;md  he  come  up  there 

id   look  at  the   mountains;  and    my  father 

went  up  with  him.      1  said  to  him,  'why  Adjutant  Tucker,  how  do  yon' 

lid  'what,  do  you  know  me?'     '  \  1.  'did'nt 

real  the  head  of  the  rigiment  every  evening 

And  then  he  laughed." 

"What  kind  of  looking  man  was  he,  Mr.  Wif 

"Well,  sir,  be  waa  aboul  five  feel  ten  inches  high,  slim  and  Btraight, 

had  lighl  hair  and  Ughl  eyes,  and  looked  as  keen  as  a  night-hawk,  sir." 

•  :  many  familiar  with  the  author,  it  appears  that 

riptioc  of  the  mountaineer,  though  more  elegant,  was  scarcely 

Heir.-  graphic  or  comprehensive. 

Curious  to  know  whether  the  latter  would  recognize  his  own  picture, 

and  thai  of  bis  fath<  r'a  house  and  it-  romantic  approaches  and  surround- 

adorse  the  sentiments  attributed  to  him  twenty-five 

lie  would  avow  in  the  midst  of  the  Btjrring  Boenea 

in  which  be  i  |  to  act  no  unimportant  part,  I  continued  : 

"  What  v  •       think,  Mr.  Witt,  if  1  were  to  tell  you  that  this 

same  Adjutant'  Tucker,  somo  ten  years  after  his  visit  her.,  ami  twenty* 

five  years  ago,  .  in  which  he  foretold  all  the  rents 

'"  our  1.  giving  him  an    .inline  of  the  hook,  as  I'ur- 

1  in  the  beginning  of  this  article. 

••  Well,  Mr.  I  should  think  it  relit  Btrnnjre.  but  mi<rlitlv  like  some  of 


INTRODUCTION.  VII 

our  leading  men  told  us;  for  I  heerd  Gov.  Floyd  make  a  speach  once, 
and  tell  that  these  things  was  gwine  to  be,  and  pretty  much  how  they 
was  gwine  to  conic  about." 

"  But  what  would  you  think  if  I  were  to  tell  you  further  that  he  has 
yaur  name  in  the  book?  that  he  thinks  Virginia  hesitated  till  she  was 
nearly  overrun  by  the  enemy,  that  we  are  sustaining  a  sort  of  guerilla, 
'bush-whacking'  warfare  out  here  in  the  mountains,  and  that  you  are  a 
kind  of  lieutenant,  exerting  a  valuable  influence  among  your  mountain 
neighbours?" 

"  Well,  I'd  think  that  was  strange,  too,  but  he  know'd  me  in  the  war 
of  twelve  !" 

"I  have  the  book  along,  Mr.  Witt." 

"I'd  be  mighty  much  oblegcd  to  you  if  you'd  read  it  to  me."  . 

I  produced  the  book,  and  complied  with  his  request  by  reading  the 
first  two  or  three  chapters.  The  description  of  the  road,  the  stream, 
the  mountains,  and  the  surroundings  of  his  father's  house,  were  en- 
dorsed by  an  occasional  "that's  so,  sir."  When  his  'name  was  intro- 
duced, and  the  description  of  his  person,  he  said : 

"  He  must  a  meant  me,  sir." 

I  suggested,  "  He  supposes,  Mr.  Witt,  that  these  things  occurred 
some  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago.  Could  you  not  have  borne,  at  that 
time  of  life,  such  a  part  as  he  attributes  to  you  ?" 

"  I  reckon  I  could,  sir ;  for  I  ought  to  be  mighty  thankful  that 
though  I  am  failin  now,  I  have  been  a  very  powerful  man." 

When  I  r«ad  to  him  his  remarks,  ac  the  dinner,  about  the  scarcity 
of  "  salt,"  "and  the  Yankees  holding  James  river,"  he  added,  with  an 
air  of  grave  astonishment — 

"  7  nty  that  to  you  «ow,  sir  /" 

I  could  but  regard  him  with  a  kind  of  romantic  veneration^  as  a 
mil  character  in  a  great  prophetic  story,  whose  thrilling  events  have 
been  essentially  fulfilled,  and  in  the  realization  of  which,  evincing  the 
same  characteristics  and  endorsing  the  same  sentiments  which  it  was 
supposed  he  would  maintain.  All  that  I  learned  from  his  neighbors 
tended  but  to  show  that  precisely  such  circumstances  as  those  supposed 
would  probably  have  developed  precisely  such  a  character  as  he  is  pre- 
sumed to  have  sustained.  I  may  add,  as.a  pleasing  little  episode,  that, 
though  for  these  forty  years  "they  have  wedded  been,"  he  has  never 
been  known  to  depart  or  return,  on  a  few  miles  trip,  without  7cissing  his 
"  darting  Katie*' 

In  company  with  a  friend,  I  spent  a  day  traversing  the  mountains. 
Fanned  by  the  pure  air,  seven  degrees  cooler  than  in  the  sultry  vale 
beneath,  bearing  upon  its  ever  waving  wings  the  sweets  of  a  thousand 


I  all  tin  >wtb  and  scenery  remarked 

vertebra  in  the  "  Devils  Back- 
■  in  the  1  I  it  required  do  fertile 

f  cover!  -■  iitint'l.  the  stand  of  the 

"The  Partisan   Leader" — marked  aa 
th  its  difficult  approa  and 

.  ••  pouring  ov<  c  rugged  barriers  of  yellow  sn  He." 
r  will  observe  that  I  have  avoided  the  mention  of  the  mere 
'(.litir.il  features  of  the  story,  such  as  the  person,  and  tune  of 
lection,  by  a  sectional  vote, caused  the 
the  date  of  the  occurrences,  and  such  like,  which, 
tot!  features  that  have  been  so  strikingly  realized,.are 

to  the  picture,  and  have  sought  Bimply  to  give  him,  at  a 
insight  into  the  oharacter  of  die  hunk,  ami  to  actualize  some 
-  minor  circumstan<  lery  and  oharacter. 

A  word  of]  personal  explanation,  and   I   am  dune.     My  attention 
I     the  notice  aUuded  t",  in  the  Literary  Met- 
twelve  months  sinoe,  I  bad  felt  the  intensest  curiosity  to 
I   oompire  it  with  the  momentous  events  of  the  present  erisis, 
.  found  my  inquiries  vain  during  that  period,  and  had  despaired 
my  object     A  few  weeks  since,  however,  in  the  regular 
f  duty,  by  a  happy  accident  I  blundered  upon  it.     Amazed, 
and  gratified  in  finding  it  a  greater  lib  ran  curiosity  than  1  had  even 
supposed,  it  immediately  occurred  t<>  me  that  thousands  must  realise  a 
similar  h  th  mjself  in  its  perusuaTj  and  that  while  its  repub- 

lue  alike  to  the  fame  of  its  author  and  to  historical!  pro- 
priety, it-  general  circulation  would  tend  to  illlustrate  the  necessity  of 
oar  position,  to  vindicate  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  to  intensify 
"  in  rn  patriotism.     Astonished  that  it  had  not  been  republished,  1 
determined  that  if  others  would  m>t  undertake   the  w  irk,  with  theap- 
ral  of  those  who  have  the  first  right  to  represent  the  author  and  his 
interests,  I  would  myself  angaee  in  the  enterprise.    Deferring  as  far 
aide  to  tli.  se,  I  wsa  assured  that  they  were  desirous  of  its  rc- 
publication,  and  bad  once  made  arrangements  lor  it;  but  owing  to  the 
fall  of  Norfolk  the  work  had  been  estopped  in  that  direction,  ami  that 
I  bould  feel  free  to  go  forward  with  it     1'leased  that  I  am 

dtti  d,  iii  i'  manner  conaonani  with  the  proprietjet  of  the  ceuey  thus 
I   numbly  oonoeive,  at  once  to  the  public  gratification 
ami  tin  publi  I  oommit  the  great  work,  in  its  original  form,  to 

lioation,  trusting  to  the  intelligence  of  the  reader  to  apply 
tin  coincidi  nee.-  which  mark  it.-^  fullilhuent  as  a  political  prophecy. 

TIKIS    A.    WAKK 


THE  PARTISAN   LEADER. 


CHAPTER   I 


And  whomsoever,  along  the  path  you  meet, 
Bears  in  his  cap  the  badge  of  crimson  hue, 
Which  tells  you  whom  to  shun  and  whom  to  greet. 

Byron. 

Toward  the  latter  end  of  the  month  of  October,  1849,  about  the 
hour  of  noon,  a  horseman  was  seen  ascending  a  narrow  valley  at  the 
eastern  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  His  road  nearly  followed  the  course  of 
a  small  stream,  which,  issuing  from  a  deep  gorge  of  the  mountain, 
winds  its  way  between  lofty  hills,  and  terminates  its  brief  and  brawling 
course  in  one  of  the  larger  tributaries  of  the  Dan.  A  glance  of  the  eye 
took  in  the  whole  of  the  little  settlement  that  lined  its  banks,  and  mea- 
sured the  resources  of  its  inhabitants.  The  different  tenements  were 
so  near  to  each  other  as  to  allow  but  a  small  patch  of  arable  land  to 
each.  01  manufactures  there  was  no  appearance,  save  only  a  rude  shed 
at  the  entrance  of  the  valley,  ou  the  door  of  which  the  oft-repeated 
brand  of  the  horse  shoe  gave  token  of  a  smithy.  There,  too,  the  rivu- 
let, increased  by  the  innumerable  springs  which  afforded  to  every  habi- 
tation the  unappreciated,  but  inappreciable  luxury  of  water,  cold,  clear 
and  sparkling,  had  gathered  strength  enough  to  turn  a  tiny  mill.  Of 
trade  there  could  be  none.  The  bleak  and  rugged  barrier,  which 
closed  the  scene  on  the  west,  and  the  narrow  road,  fading  to  a  foot- 
path, gave  assurance  to  the  traveller  that  he  had  here  reached  the  nc 
phi*  ultra  of  social  life  in  that  direction. 

Indeed,  the  appearance  of  discomfort  and  poverty  in  every  dwelling 
well  accorded  with  the  scanty  territory  belonging  to  each.  The  walls 
and  chimneys  of  unhewn  lugs,  the  roofs  of  loose  boards  laid  on  long 
rib-poles,  that  projected  from  the  gables,  and  held  down  by  similar 
poles  placed  above  them,  together  with  the  smoked  and  sooty  appear- 
ance of  the  whole,  betokened  an  abundance  of  timber,  but  a  dearth  of 


TIIK    PARTI8AH    LKADKK. 

Contiguous  t"  each  w.i~  i  sort  of  rude  garden,  Jo- 
in  tin*  ruder   language  of  thfl  country,  a  "truck    patch." 
pari  of  which    had   produced  a  OTOp  of 

oats,  while  ob  tin-  remainder  the  [ndian  corn  still  hung  on  the  stalk, 

waitii  Ldd    to   this  a  small    meadow,  anil  the  I 

will    h.         .  ; j > t i v c  of  each    of  the    bttle   f.irim 

which,  lor  the  distance  of  three  miles,  bordered  the  Btraam. 

*hu-  bore  the  marks  of  a  crowded  popula 
tion,  a  deep  still)  raded  it.     The  visible  signs  of  life  were  few 

\    solitary  youngster,  male  or  female, 

loitering  about  every  door.     These,  is  the  traveller 
passed  along,  would  skulk   from  observation,  and  then  Bteal  out,  and, 

.  indulge  their  curiosity,  at   sife  distances,  by  looking 
alter  him. 

At  length  he  heard  a  Bound  of  voices,  and  then  a  shrill  whistle,  and 

.-till.     Immediately,  some  half  a  dozen  men,  leaping  a  fence, 

I   themselves  across  the  road  and  laced  him.     He  observed  that 

each,  as  In-  touehed  the  ground,  lai  I  hold  of  a  rifle  that  leaned  against 

ire,  and  this  circumstance  drew  his  attention  to  twenty  or  mure 

e  formidable  weapons,  ranged  along  in  the  same  position.     The 

fir.-t  impulse  of  tin-  travel!'  r  wa-  to  draw  B  pistol;   but   seeing    that  the 

;ted  their  guns  upon  the  ground  and 

d  them,  he  quietly  withdrew  his  hand  from  his  holster.     It 

was   plain    that  no  violence  wai   intended,  and    that  thi<  movement  was 

nothing  but  a  11  I  rccaution,  such  as  the  unsettled  condition  oi 

intT  lie  therefore  advanced  steadily  but  slowly,  and, 

n  ;  the  party,  reim  d  in  his  horse  and  Bilently  invited  the  in- 

i  parli  y. 

Tb-  men,  though  somewhat  variously  attired,  wero  all  chiefly  clad  in  balf- 

i  bock-skin.    Thej  seemed  to  have  been  engaged  in  gathering  corn 

iii  the  adjoining  Bold.    Their  companions,  who  .-till  continued  the  sa 

eroUS    enough    (including  women   and    boys,  of 

both  of  whieh   there  was  a  fuB  proportion,)  to  have  secured  the 'little 
crop  in  i  lew  hours.     Indeed,  it  would  seem  that  the  whole  working 

"i>  of  til  rhood,  both  male  and   female,  was  assembled 

ler  drew  up  his  horse,  one  of  the  men, speaking  in  a 

low  an  ••  \\  e  want  a  word  with  you,  .stranger,  before 

"  As  man;  i  plied  the  other,  "  tar  I  am  tired  and 

;  and  I  am  glad  to  find  some  one,  at  last,  of 
whom  I  may  bops  to  purchase  souiething  for  both  of  u.s  to  eat." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  A 

"  That  you  can  have  quite  handy,"  said  the  countryman ;  "  for  we 
have  been  gathering  corn,  and  were  just  going  to  our  dinner.  If  you 
will  only  just  'light,  sir,  one  of  the  boys  can  feed  your  horse,  and  you 
can  take  such  as  we  have  got  to  give  you." 

The  invitation  was  accepted  ;  the  horse  was  taken  in  charge  by  a 
long-legged  lad  of  fifteen,  without  hat  or  shoes,  and  the  whole  party 
crossed  the  fence  together. 

At  the  moment,  a  man  was  seen  advancing  toward  them,  who,  ob- 
serving their  approach,  fell  back  a  few  steps,  and  threw  himself  on  the 
ground  at  the  foot  of  a  large  old  apple-tree.  Around  this  were  clus- 
tered a  motley  group  of  men,  women  and  boys,  who  opened  and  made 
way  for  the  stranger.  He  advanced,  and  bowing  gracefully,  took  off 
his  forage  cap,  from  beneath  which  a  quantity  of  soft,  curling  flaxen 
hair  fell  over  his  brow  and  cheeks.  Every  eye  was  now  fixed  on  him, 
with  an  expression  rather  of  interest  than  mere  curiosity.  Every  coun- 
tenance was  serious  and  composed,  and  all  wore  an  air  of  business,  ex- 
cept that  a  slight  titter  was  heard  among  the  girls,  who,  hovering  be- 
hind the  backs  of  their  mothers,  peeped  through  the  crowd  to  get  a  look 
at  the  handsumc  stranger. 

lie  was  indeed  a  handsome  youth,  about  twenty  years  of  age,  whose 
fair  complexion  and  regular  features  made  him  seem  yet  younger.  He 
wastall,  slightly  but  elegantly  formed,  with  a  countenance  in  which  soft- 
ness and  spirit  were  happily  blended.  His  dress  was  plain  and  cheap, 
though  not  unfashionable.  A  short  grey  coat,  waistcoat  and  pantaloons, 
that  neatly  fitted  and  set  off  his  handsome  person,  showed  by  the  quality 
of  the  cloth  that  his  means  were  limited,  or  that  he  had  too  much  sense 
to  waste  in  foppery  that  which  might  be  better  expended  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  suffering  country.  But,  even  in  this  plain  dress,  he  was  ap- 
parelled like  a  king  in  comparison  with  the  rustics  that  surrounded 
him  ;  and'his  whole  air  would  have  passed  him  for  a  gentleman  in  any 
ili ■( £S  and  any  company  where  the  constituents  of  that  character  are 
rightly  understood. 

In  the  present  assembly  there  seemed  to  be  none,  indeed,  who  could 
be  supposed  to  have  had  much  experience  in  that  line.  Bat  dignity  fa 
felt,  and  courtesy  appreciated  by  all,  and  the  expression  of  frankness 
and  truth  is  everywhere  understood. 

A-  die  youth  approached,  the  man  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  arose  and 
returned  the  .salutation,  which  seemed  unheeded  by  the  rest.  II<* 
advanced  a  step  or  two,  and  invited  the  Stranger  to  be  seated.  This 
action,  and  the  looks  turned  toward  him  by  the  others,  showed  that  be 
was  in  authority  of  some  sorl  among  them.  With  him,  therefore,  our 
traveller  concluded  that  the  proposed  conference  wa.s  to  be  held.  There 


;  THK    PARTBAS    l.KAI'EK. 

wai  nothii  Inch  WOuM    have    led  a  Careless    ob- 

I  _ '   :       might  have 
intellectual  in  his  countenance,  with  1. 
and  manner  than  the  rest  of  the  company  disj  laved. 
In  aii.  the  negative  courtesy  of  thai  quiet  and  s<  rious 

oni   iin j  art  to  the  rudest  and  mo.»t  frivo- 

thal  they  had  a  common  purpose,  and  thai 

•  ipaeity  entered  into  their  feeling  toward  the  new- 

Whl  thl  r   lif  was   to   1"-  treated  B8  I  friend  or  an  enemy,  obvi- 

high  consideration,  not  yet  disclosed. 

Be  wa>  at  length  asked  from  whence  he  came,  and  answered  from 

the    neighborhood   of    Richmond.     From   which    side    of  the    river? 

From  the  north  tide.     ]>id  he  know  anything  of  Van  Courtlandt  1   His 

.-.  Bacon's  Braaoh,  jnst   above   the  town.     "What  force  had 

. 

•■  I  cannot  aay  certainly,"  he  replied,  "but  common  fame  made  his 
numbers  about  four  thousand."' 

•    I-  that  all,  on  both  sides  of  the  river?"  said  his  interrogator. 

"0,  no  !  Col.  boyal's  regiment  is  at  Petersburg,  and  Ool.  t'oles's  at 
Manchester — each  about  live  hundred  strong;  and  there  is  a  piquet  on 
the  bridge  island." 

•■  Did  you  cross  there?" 

••  I  did  not." 

■■  \\  here  then  ':"  he  was  asked. 

••  I  can  hardly  tell,"  he  replied;  "  it  was  at  a  private  lord,  several 
miles  above  <  larteraville." 

"  Was  not  that  mightily  out  of  the  way?     "What  made  you  come  so 

■  fund  ?" 
••  It  was  safer  travelling  on  that  side  of  the  river." 
••  Then  the  people  OS  that  side  of  the  river  are  your  friends?" 

they  are  not  ;   but,  B8  they  are  all  of  a  color  there,  they  would 
let  in'    pass,  and  a.-k  no  qU(  BtionS,  as  lung  as  1  travelled  due  west.      On 
;  are  one  man's  friend,  ymi  are  the  next  man's  enemy; 
and   1  had  DO  mind  to  answer  (juestions." 

"1     l      em  to  answer  them  now  mighty  freely." 

true       I  am  like  a  letter  that  tells  all  it  knows  as  soon  as  it 

thfl  right  hand  ;   hut  it  doM  not  want  tODC  opened  before  that." 

••  And  bon  d"  you  know  that  yon  have  got  to  the  right  hand  now?" 

••  l'».  causa  I  know  where  I  am." 

'*  And  where  an  you '." 

"  Just  at  the  foot  of  the  I''  ril's  Backbone/'  replied  the  youth. 

■'  Were  you  ever  here  befor- 


THE   PARTISAN  LEADER.  5 

"  Never  in  my  life." 

"  How  do  you  know  then  where  you  are  ?''  asked  the  mountaineer. 

"Because  the  right  way  to  avoid  questions  is  to  ask  none.  Sol  took 
care  to  know  all  about  the  road,  and  the  country,  and  the  place,  before 
I  left  home." 

"  And  who  told  you  all  about  it?" 

"  Suppose  I  should  tell  you,"  answered  the  young  man,  "that  Van 
Courtlandt  had  a  map  of  the  country  made,  and  gave  it  to  me." 

"  I  should  say  you  were  a  traitor  to  him  or  a  spy  to  us,"  was  the 
stern  reply. 

At  the  same  moment  a  startled  hum  was  heard  from  the  crowd,  and 
the  press  moved  and  swayed  for  an  instant,  as  if  a  sort  of  spasm  had 
pervaded  the  whole  mass. 

"  You  are  a  good  hand  at  questioning,"  said  the  youth,  with  a  smile  ; 
u  but,  without  asking  a  single  question,  I  have  .  found  out  all  I  wanted 
to  know." 

"  And  what  was  that  V  a=ked  the  other. 

"  Whether  you  were  friends  to  the  Yorkers  and  Yankees,  or  to  poor 
old  Virginia." 

"  And  which  are  we  for  ?"  added  the  laconic  mountaineer. 

"  For  Old  Virginia  forever,"  replied  the  youth,  in  a  tone  in 
which  exultation  rung  through  a  deeper  emotion,  that  half  stifled  his 
voice. 

It  reached  the  hearts  of  his  auditors,  and  was  echoed  in  a  shout  that 
pealed  along  the  mountain  sides  their  proud  war-cry  of  "  Old  Virgi- 
nia forever!"  The  speaker  looked  around  in  silence,  but  with  a 
countenance  that  spoke  all  that  the  voices  of  his  comrades  had  uttered. 

"  Quiet,  boys,"  said  he,  "  never  shout  till  the  war  is  ended,  unless  it 
be  when  you  see  the  enemy."  Then  turning  again  to  the  traveller,  he 
said,  "  And  how  did  you  know  we  were  for  old  Virginia  ?" 

"  I  knew  it  by  the  place  where  I  find  you.  I  heard  it  in  your  voice  ; 
I  saw  it  in  tliflr  eyei ;  and  I  felt  it  in  my  hart,"  said  the  young  man, 
extending  his  hand. 

1 1  is  inquisitor  returned  the  cordial  pressure  with  an  iron  grasp. 
strong,  but  not  convulsive,  and  went  on  :  "You  are  a  sharp  youth.' 
said  he,  "and  if  you  arc  of  the  right  metal  that  will  hold  an  edge,  you 
will  make  somebody  feel  it.  But  I  don't  know  rightly  yet  who  that  i.^- 
to  be,  only  just  I  will  say,  that  if  you  are  not  ready  to  live  and  die  by 
old  Virginia,  your  heart  and  face  are  not  of  the  same  color,  that's  all." 

He  then  resumed  his  steady  look  and  quiet  tone,  and  added,   "  You 
must  not  make  me  forget  what  I  am  about.     How  did  you  learn  til 
way  here  ?" 


T1IL    PARTI8AS    LBA1 

aid  the  youth.    "I  leaned  i:  from  Cap- 

I 

er.     "  If  you  a  here 

en  him  since  he  knew  it  himself." 
.-  the  reply,  "  hut  1  have  heard  from  him." 
••  I  should  lik<  ;>  letter. 

••  1  have  ii"  I  ••  # 

••  Boa  tl 

to  my  hone  ruxl  I  will  Bhow  you." 
The  youth,  aooompanied  byhia  interrogator,  now  returned  toward  the 
Many  of  the  <r<>wd  were   ahout   to   follow;  but  the  chief  (for 
neh  be  teemed)  waved  them  hack  with  a  silent  motion  of  bis  hand, 
while  ■  glance  of  meaning  at  two  of  the  company  invited  them  to  pro- 
as the   stranger  reached  his   horse,  he  drew  out,  from 
;i  the  padding  and  seat  of  his  saddle,  a  paper  closely  folded,    (hi 
(bond  to  he  a  map  of  his  route  from  Richmond  to 
■  in  the  mountains,  a  few  miles  west  of  the  spot  where  the)' stood. 
(  hi  this  were    traced   the  roads  and  streams,  with    the  names  of  a  few 
.  written  in  a  hand  which  was  known  to  the  leader  of  the  moun- 
taineera  to  be  thai  of  Captain  Douglas.    A  red  line  marked  the  devious 

the  traveller  had  heen  directed  to  pursue. 
Ei  Baid  that  after  crossing  the  river,  between  Lynchburg  and  Car- 
le, to  avoid  the  parties  of  the  enemy  stationed  at  both  places,  he 
had  lain  by,  until  dark,  at  the  house  of  a  true  Virginian.     Then  turn- 
ith,  and    riding  hard   all  night,  he  had  crossed  the  Appomattox 
I'armville,  |  which  he  avoided  for  a  like  reason,)  and, before  day, 

:t  behind  him  all  the  hostile  posts  and  scouting  parties.    He  soon 

i  the  Staunton  river,  and  having  passed  it,  resumed  his  westward 
safety. 
"  You  know  this   hand,"  said  he  to  the  chief,  "and  now  I  suppose 

atiefied." 

u  I  am  satisfied,"  replied  the  other,  "and  glad  to  see  you.     I  have 

loubt  ahout  you,  young  man,  and  you  are  heartily  welcome  among 

all  we  can  give   you — and   that  ain't   much — and  all  we  can  do 

i  ;  and  thai  will   depend   Dpon  whether  stout   hearts,  and  willing 

I  rifles  can  help  you.     But  you  said  you  were  hungry; 

lad  en  ogb  of  a  part  of  our  sorry  dinner." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER. 


CHATTER    It. 

Hens  !  etiam  Mensas  consumimus. — Virgil. 

Returning  to  the  party  which  they  had  left,  they  found  the  women 
in  the  act  of  placing  their  meal  before  them,  under  the  apple-tree. 
There  was  a  patch  of  grass  there,  but  no  shade  ;  nor  was  any  needed  in 
that  lofty  region.  The  frost  had  already  done  its  work  by  stripping 
the  trees  of  their  leaves,  and  letting  in  the  welcome  rays  of  the  sun 
through  the  naked  branches.  The  meal  consisted  of  fresh  pork  and 
venison,  roasted  or  broiled  on  the  coals,  which  looked  tempting  enough, 
though  served  up  in  wooden  trays.  There  were  no  knives  but  such  as 
each  hunter  carries  in  his  belt.  Our  traveller's  dirk  supplied  the  place 
of  one  to  him.  Their  plates  were  truly  classical,  consisting  of  cakes  of 
Indian  corn,  baked  in  the  ashes,  so  that,  like  the  soldiers  of  ^Enas,  each 
man  ate  his  platter  before  his  hunger  was  appeased. 

Our  traveller,  though  sharp-set,  could  not  help  perceiving  a  woful 
insipidity  in  his  food,  for  which  his  entertainer  apologized.  "  We 
ha'nt  got  no  salt  to  give  you,  stranger,"  said  he.  "  The  little  that's 
made  on  the  waters  of  Ilolston  is  all  used  there;  and  what  comes  by 
way  of  the  sound  is  too  dear  for  the  like  of  us,  that  fight  one  half  the 
year  and  work  the  other  half,  and  then  with  our  rifles  in  our  hands. 
As  lung  as  we  let  the  Yankees  hold  James  river,  we  must  make  up  our 
minds  to  eat  our  hogs  when  they  are  fat,  and  to  do  without  salt  to  our 
bread.  But  it  is  not  worth  grumbling  about;  and  bread  without  salt  is 
more  than  men  deserve  that  will  gave  up  their  country  without  fighting 
for  it." 

"When  the  meal  was  finished,  our  traveller,  expressing  a  due  sense  of 
the  courtesy  of  his  entertainers,  asked  what  was  to  pay,  and  proposed 
to  continue  his  journey. 

"  As  to  what  you  arc  to  pay,  my  friend,"  said  the  spokesman  of  tho 
party,  in  the  same  cold,  quiet  tone,  "  that  is  just  nothing.  If  you  come 
here  by  Captain  Douglas's  invitation,  you  are  one  of  us;  and  if  you  do 
not,  we  are  bound  to  find  you  as  long  as  we  keep  you.  But,  as  to  your 
going  just  yet,  it  is  quite  against  our  rules." 

"How  is  that?"  asked  the  traveller,  with  some  expression  of  impa- 
tience. 

"That  is  what  I  cannot  tell  you;"  replied  the  other. 


■ 


8  TU.  LBADJ  K. 

'.  -;li.  11  cheeking  himself,  lie 

.  -"  Hut  I  set  ;•  n  >thing  bul  wl  At  and  prudent; 

own   way   to  find  out  all  you  wish  to  know 

•  I  thought  you  said  you  did  not  doubt  inc." 

1    d  .     replied   the  other;   *  - 1  •  n  t  that  is  not  the  thing. 

II  rules  ar<  -lied,  though  I  am." 

•It  .      ■  role  to  tell  them,"  said  the  mountaineer,  drily.     "Hut 

make  itranger.     We  mean  you  bo  harm,  and  1  will  Bee 

thing  laid  Btraight  before  sun-rise.     Vou  are  heartily 

Such  al  ire'Te  got  we  give  you;  and  that  ifl  better  than  you 

will  fiii'l  where  \<<u  are  going.     For  our  parts,  except  it  be  for  salt,  we 

-  will  off  lure  as  common;  because  there  is  little  else  we 

DMA  from  foreign  parts.    I  dare  say,  it  will  go  hard  with  you 

for  a  while,  sir  ;  but,  if  your  heart's   right,   you  will   not  mind  it,  and 

you  v  t   used  to  it." 

••  It  would  be  ■  great  shame,"  said  the  youth,  "if  I  cannot  hear  for 
a  while  what  you  have  borne  for  life." 

aid  the  other,  u  that  is  the  way  people  talk.  But  (axing 
your  pardon,  sir.)  there  an't  no  sense  in  it.  Because  the  longei  a  man 
bears  a  thing,  tin  less  be  minds  it;  and  after  a  while,  it  an't  do  hard- 
ship at  all.  And  that's  the  way  with  the  poor  negroes  that  the  Yan- 
|l  d  !■•  be  BO  BOrry  for,  and  tried  to  get  them  to  rise  against 
]  here's  Pew  of  them,  Btrangor,  hut  what's  happier  than 
I  am ;  hut  1  should  hi  mighty  unhappy,  if  you  were  to  catch  me  now, 

in  my  old  days,  and  make  a  slave;  of  me.      So  when   the    Yankees  want 

to  set  thfl  Degrees    free,    and    to    make  me   a  sla\e.  they  want  to  put  US 

what  we  are  not  tit  for.    And  BO  it  will  be  with  you  for  a  while, 

these  mountains,  sleeping  on   the  ground,  ami  eating  you  meat 

without  salt,  or  bread  either,  may  he.      Hut    after  a  while   you  will  not 

mind  it.      But  U  to  whether  it  is  to  1"'  long   or    short,   yOUOg  man,  you 

4  think  about  that.      You    have    BO   business    here,    if  you  have 

not  Btade  np  your  mind  to  stand  the  like  of  that  for  life;  and  may  be 
■  mighty  bng  neither." 

mi.  nt  a  signal  from  the    road   gaYe   notice  of  the  approach 

seller;  and  the  leader  of  the  mountaineers,  accompanied  by 

i.  wt  n;   forward  in  obedienoe  to  it.     But,  before  be  reached 

1"  the  party  leap  it,  and  run  eagerly  forward 

A    little   man   now   appeared,  walking  slowly 

and  wearily,  whom  dress  differed  but  little  from  that  of  the  natives; 

and  who  bore,  like  them,  a  riile,  with  its  proper  accompaniments  of 

knife,  tomahawk,  and  powder-horn.      His  arrival  awakened  a  tumult  of 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  9 

joy  among  the  younger  persons  present,  while  he  whom  I  have  designa- 
ted as  the  chief  stood  still,  looking  toward  him  with  a  countenance  in 
which  en  expression  of  thoujhtful  interest  was  mingled  with  a  sort  of 
quiet  satisfaction,  and  great  kindness  ^ind  good  will.  Yet  he  moved 
hut  a  step  to  meet  him,  and  extending  his  hand,  said,  in  his  usual  cold 
tone,  "  How  is  it,  Schwartz  V  to  which  the  other,  in  a  voice  somewhat 
more  cherry,  replied,  "  Well;  how  is  it  with  you,  Witt  ?"  "Well," 
was  the  grave  answer. 

The  two  now  drew  apart  to  converse  privately  together.  Crossing 
the  road,  they  seated  themselves  on  the  fence  in  front  of  the  stranger, 
so  that  during  their  conference  they  could  keep  an  eye  on  him. 

"  Who  is  this  you  have  got  here  ?"  asked  Schwartz. 

"  A  young  fellow  who  says  he  wants  to  go  to  the  camp,"  replied  the 
other. 

u  Has  he  got  the  word  and  signs?" 

"  No.  He  does  not  know  any  thing  about  it.  I  have  a  notion  he  is 
a  friend  of  the  captain's." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?" 

"  He  has  got  a  paper  in  the  captain's  hand  write  to  show  him  the 
way.  But  there's  no  name  to  it;  and  if  there  was,  I  could  not  tell 
that  he  was  the  man.  Sure  and  sartin  the  captain  wrote  the  paper, 
but  then  somebody  may  have  stolen  it.  A  man  that  knows  as  muc'h 
about  the  country  as  he  does,  after  looking  at  that  paper  and  travelling 
by  it  away  here,  is  the  last  man  we  ought  to  let  go  any  farther,  or  know 
any  more,  unless  he  is  of  the  right  sort." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  that  paper,"  said  Schwartz. 

"  Here  it  is,"  replied  his  companion.  "  I  don't  much  mistrust  the 
young  fellow;  but  I  did  not  like  to  let  him  have  it  again  till  I  knew 
more." 

Schwartz  now  looked  at  the  paper  and  enquired  the  stranger's 
name. 

"  I  did  not  ask  his  name,"  said  Witt,  "because  he  could  just  tell 
me  what  name  he  pleased.  As  there  was  no  name  on  the  paper,  it  did 
not  make  any  odds.  Besides,  I  wanted  to  be  civil  to  him,  and  your 
high  gentlemen  down  about  Richmond  are  affronted  sometimes  if  you 
ask  their  names.  The  young  fellow  is  all  light,  or  all  wrong,  any  how  . 
and  his  name  don't  make  any  odds.  If  the  captain  knows  him,  when 
he  sees  him,  it's  all  one  what  his  name  is." 

"  But  I  know,"  said  Schwartz,  "who  ought  to  have  that  paper;  and 
if  he  don't  answer  to  that  name  it's  no  use  troubling  the  captain  with 
him." 


U)  THE    PARTISAN    LEA! 

.   harm  to  him,"  Baid  Win.  ••  for  1 
.  true   Virginian,  then  he  is  the  gi 

I  the  road,  and  Schwartz,  addressing  th< 
to  ask  your  nut: 
.:  follow  oolored,  and,  turning  t.»  Witt,  Baid,"]  thought 
asking  questions." 
Witt,  "but  there  is  a  reason  for  asking  your  name 
now,  thai  I  did  nol  knowof.     1  owe  you  nothing  but  good  will,  young* 
i  hr  with  earnest  solicitude;  '•ami  if  your  name  is  what  I 
.    -ur.'  by  all  means  and  tell  the  truth  ;   for  there  is  hut  one 
rid  that  will  save  your  neck." 
■    I    shall    t'll    you    no  name  at  all,"  rejoined  the  youth,  some- 
what appalled  at  this  BtaTiling  intimation.      "  Why  did  not  \<m  ask  me 

r  when   I   was  in  the  humor  to  keep  nothing  from  you.     I  was 

willing  to  answer  any  eivil  question,  or  Indeed  any  question  you  would 

ut  to  me,  hut  I  will  not  submit  to  be   examined,  over  and  over, 

banco -com 

"  H  ere's  where  you  are  wrong,  young  man,"  replied  Witt.     "This 

hanoe-OOmer.      lie  is  my  head  man,  ami   I  am  just  nobody  when 

he  is  1"  r 

Surprised  at  this  ascription  of  authority  to  the  diminutive  and  mean- 

looking  Dcw-eomer,  our  traveller  looked  at  him  again,  and  was  >■<  nfirmed 
olntion  to  resist  it.     He  liad   patiently   borne  to  be  questioned 
•;.  who  had    something  of  an  air   ol    dignity.     He  was  a  tall, 
mbed,  ami  ]  owerful  man,  of  about  forty,  remarkable  For  the  Bo- 
or, ami  the  thoughtful  gravity  of  his  countenanoe. 

The  Other  was  a    little,  did  fellow,  not    leas    than   sixty  years   "1    age,  in 

manner  ami  carriage  there  wa<  nothing  to  supply  the  want  of 

in  his  diminutive  form  and  features.     A  sharp,  little,  black  eye 

int  about  him  to  attract;  attention ;  and  in  that  the  youth 

t  hi  an    impertinent  and  knowing  twinkle,  which  n  \ 

■  '.:       offensive. 

•I  said   he  to    Witt,    "that    Captain  Douglas  was  your 

in." 

••  Tfat  is,  ho  commands  all  here.     Hut 

I  did  not  tell  you   this  was  my  raj), 
tuiii.     He  is  no  nor  Heutenant,  nor  ensign  neither.     Hut  all  of 

low  him  ;  and,  when  he  is  away,  the  rest  follow  mc." 
••  Y..U  all  follow  km  .'"  said  the  traveller,  looking  contemptuously  on 
him. 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  11 

"  To  be  sure  they  do,"  said  Schwartz,  with  a  quizzical  smile,  and  an- 
swering the  stranger's  thoughts.  "  To  be  sure  they  do.  Don't  you  see 
I  am  the  likeliest  man  here  ?" 

"I  cannot  say  I  do,"  said  the  youth,  offended  at  the  impertinent 
manner  of  the  question. 

"  Well,  I  am  the  strongest  man  in  the  whole  company." 
"  I  should  hardly  think  that,"  replied  the  traveller,  scornfully. 
"  Any  how,  then,  I  am  the  biggest,"  rejoined  Schwartz,  laughing. 
"  That  you  must  own.     What !  do  you  dispute  that,  too  ?     Well,  then, 
look  here,  stranger  !     I  ha'nt  got  no  commission,  and   these  men  are  as 
free  as  I  am.     AY  hat  do  you  think  makes  them  obey  my  orders?" 

"  I  really  cannot  Bay,"  replied  the  young  man. 

•'  Well,"  said  Schwartz,  °  it  is  a  curious  business,  and  well  worth 
your  considering;  because,  you  sec,  I  have  a  notion  if  you  could  find 
that  out,  you  would  find  out  a  pretty  good  reason  why  you  ought  to  tell 
me  your  name.  But  that  is  your  business.  Some  name  you  must  have, 
and  the  right  one,  too.  And  you  see,  stranger,  it  makes  no  odds 
whether  it  is  no  name  or  the  wrong  one.  It  is  all  the  same  thing  ;  be- 
cause, if  you  are  the  man  that  ought  to  have  that  paper,  you  would  tell 
your  name  in  a  minute." 

"  Do  you  know  who  ought  to  have  it  ?"  asked  the  youth. 

"  May  be  I  do,"  said  Schwartz. 

'•  Question  for  question,"  said  the  other.     -( Do  you  know  ?" 

"  I  do." 

"  Well,  then,  my  name  is  Arthur  Trevor.     Is  th  it  right  ?" 

u  That's  as  it  may  be,"  said  Schwartz.  "  But  now  I  want  to  know 
how  you  came  by  this  paper." 

"  What  need  you  care  about  that,  if  I  am  the  person  that  ought  to 
have  it." 

"  Just  because  I  want  to  know  if  you  are  the  one  that  ought  to 
have  it." 

"  I  tell  you,"  replied  the  youth,  "  that  my  name  is  Arthur  Trevor." 

"  But  I  do  not  know  that  it  is,"  replied  Schwartz,  carelessly. 

"Do  you  doubt  my  word,  then?"  exclaimed  the  youth;  his  eye 
flashing,  and  the  blood  rushing  to  his  face,  as  if  it  would  burst  through 
his  clear  skin. 

"Look  hero,  stranger,"  laid  Schwartz,  in  a  tone  of  quiet  expostula- 
tion ;  "I  don't  mau  DO  offence,  and  you  will  think  BO  too,  if  yOtt'll 
just  look  at  it  rightly,  ;  because,  you  sec,  I  don't  know  who  you  are.  I 
doil'4  doubt  Arthur  Trevor's  word;  and,  if  you  arc  Arthur  Trevor,  I 
don't  doubt  your  word.     No\v,   if  you   have  any  way  to  show  that  you 


Til.  \N    I.r.U'ER. 

t  to  do  it.  and   it  will  set  all  as  straight 

■  it  Ions." 

a\\-  of  showing  it."  said  the  young  man.  in  some 

k  .arc  ;■>  bring  nothing  with  me  to  show  who  1  am 

:    i         :•  might  have  brought  me  into  trouble  in  some  parts 

Dough,"  replied  Schwartz,  "  and  so  T  asked  you  how 
by  the  pa]  ise   I    know  how  Arthur  Trevor  should 

i.    ii'  you   got    it   that  way,  why  then  you  are  th-> 

I'.v  th!-  ti  uth   saw   the   folly  of  his  anger,  and  answered, 

•  from  a  man  he  nev  fore. 

'•  \\  hat  K>rt  Of  a  man  was  he?"  asked  Schwartz. 

•  \  thing  uncommon,  except  that  he  was  lame." 

"  Did  he  give  you  any  thing  else  at  the  same  time?" 

re  me  this,"  said  the  youth,  producing  a  dirty  piece 

iper,  on  which  was  scrawled  these  words: 

has  oeoashnn  to  go  of  a  juruey,   carry  this  with  you. 
of  Bum  service  to  you." 
•11."   said    Schwartz,   "that  will   do.     You  arc  Arthur  Trevor, 
'.id  I  reckon,  Witt,  you  would  have  said  so  too,  if  you 
;  ■    ■ 

Witt  looked  at  the  paper,  and  merely  nodded  assent. 
'•  We\\"   Bai  1    the   young   man,    "  now    1   suppose    1    may  go   to  my 
I." 

••  Not  i  .  I  Sohwarti. 

••  Why  bo?"  asked  the  youth,  again  relapsing  into  petulance. 
".In-t  becau  e  you  could  not  get  there,"  was  the  answer. 
■•  Why  not,"  said  he  "after  finding  my  way  thtU  fax." 

reason    that  you  could  not  have  got  any  farther  if  I 
You  would  in.  it  with  rougher  customers  than  the  a  bi 

and  the  camp.      Come,   come,   my  son.     You   must  learn  to 

The  captain  has  not  go!  a  better  friend  than  me  in 

rid;  dot  you   neither,  if  you  did  but  know  all.     And,  you  see. 

a  new  trade  j  and   1  thought  I  would  just  give  you  a 

h»oii.      .Now  you  may    «■•,  that,  when   you   mean    nothing   hut  what  is 

rod  //"»  always  know  how  that  is,)  the  naked  truth 

•  friend  :  and   then,   the   sooner   it  comes  the  better.     I  am 

h  of  an  old    fol  ;  and    ]    reckon  I  ha^fl  told  more  lies  than 

•.   for  all  that,  I  have  seen  the  day  when  the 

truth  \  than  the  cunninccst  lie  that  ever  was  told.     And  then 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  13 

again,  it  an't  no  use  to  mind  what  a  man  says  when  he  don't  know 
you ;  because,  you  see,  it  an't  you  he  is  talking  to,  but  just  a  stran- 
ger" 

"But  I  have  travelled  desperate  hard  to-day,  Witt,"  continued 
Schwartz,  "  and  I  must  push  on  to  the  camp  to-night.  80  just  give  mc 
a  mouthful,  and  I'll  be  off,  and  pilot  Mr.  Trevor  through  among  the 
guards." 

"  My  horse  is  at  your  service,  as  you  are  tired,"  said  Arthur,  whose 
feelings  towards  his  new  acquaintance  were  now  quite  mollified. 

u  I  have  had  riding  enough  for  one  day,"  said  Schwartz  ;  "  and  was 
glad  enough  to  get  to  where  I  could  leave  my  horse.  Tt  an't  much 
good  a  horse  will  do  you,  or  mc  either,  where  we  arc  going.  By  the 
time  we  climb  to  the  top  of  the  Devil's  Back-bone,  you'll  be  more  tired 
than  me ;  and  the  horse  will  be  worst  off  of  any." 

He  now  told  one  of  the  boys  to  make  ready  Arthur's  horse,  and, 
snatching  a  hasty  morsel,  seized  his  rifle.  "  It  will  not  do,"  said  he, 
"to  starve  when  a  man  is  on  fatigue,  and  it  will  not  do  to  cat  too 
much.  And  see  here,  Witt,"  added  he,  taking  him  apart,  and  speak- 
ing in  a  low  tone,  "  if  a  long-legged,  red-headed  fellow  comes  along 
here,  and  tells  you  he  is  from  Currituck,  and  seems  to  think  he  knows  all 
the  signs,  never  let  him  find  out  but  what  he  does.  Only  just  make 
an  excuse  to  keep  him  a  while,  and  send  a  runner  on  to  me,  that  \  may 
have  time  to  get  out  of  the  way,  because  he  must  not  see  ire.  Then 
you  can  start  him  off  again  with  a  couple  of  fellows  to  show  him  the 
way." 


1  \  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


r  11  A  i'TKR    III. 


The  fbresVa  shady  scene, 


thai  own  nol  man's  dominion  iwoll, 
l  ! . : 1 1 h  ne'er  it  rarely  been. — Rykux. 

'I'm  off  togetber,  Arthur  walking,  and  lead- 

i  reached  a  point  where  a  .-harp  ridge,  jutting 

from    the   .side   of  the   mountain,  came    down    ahniptly 

|  ,    lank    of  the   rivulet.      Up    this   rijdge,   not  Unaptly  railed 

•u<\"  the  path  led.     Leaning,  as  it  were,  against 
.  in — its  position,  the  narrow  ridgy  edge  along  which  the  tra- 
veller clam  I  the  rough  nodules  which  interrupted  the  i 
like  the  notches  in  a  hen's  ladder,  gave  it  no  small  resemblance  to  this 
rifely  contrivance.     The  steep  descent  on  either  hand  into  deep 
v  and  hirsute  with  stinted   trees  bristling  from  the  sides,  to- 

with  the  similarity  of  these  same  nodules  to  the  joints  of  the 

spine,  had  I   i   a    name  strictly   descriptive   of  the   place      The 

pness,  and  vast  height   of  the   ascent,  would    naturally 

;  in  Ful  epithet;  and  were  the  spot  to  he  named  again, 
a  hundred  to  one  it  would  receive  the  same  name,  and  no  other. 

miuit  of  this   narrow  stair,  the   travellers   stopped    to  take 

breath,  back  on  the  scene  hi  low.     Arthur,  who  was  at  the 

romantic  sge  when  young  men  aie  taught  to  affect   an  enthusiasm  for 
the  beauties  of  nature,  and  to  prate  about  hues  and  scents,  and  light 

and  shade,  and   :  in  all  the   variety  of  the  grand,  the  beautiful, 

and  the  pictun  sque,  had  been  feasting  his  imagination  with  the  thought 
Hew  to  be  seen   from  the  pinnacle  before  him.     Like 
about  to  feast  on  turtle,  who  will  Dot  taste  a  bisouit  before- 
hand i'd    spoil    his   dinner,  so  our   young  traveller   steadily 

ard  the  hill  as  he  asi  i  nded  it.     Ev<  n  when  he  si 
to  talc  breath,  b<  ■  ful  not  to  look  behind.    Schwartz,  on  the 

y,  who   9  .  always   faced   ahoiit  on   such  occasion."., 

filling  the  ]  h  conversation,  and  looking  as  if  unconscious  of 

r  which  his  eye  glanced  unheeding.     Arthur  was 

I    h    indiffi  r<  nee,  and    wondered    whether    this    was    the 

effect  absence  of  a  faculty  of  which  poets  so 

muclr  delight  to  apeak. 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  10 

At  length  the  summit  was  attained ;  and  now  the  youth  looted 
around  in  anticipated  exultation.  At  first  he  felt  bound  to  admire, 
and  forgetting  the  unromantic  character  .of  his  matter-of-fact  com- 
panion, exclaimed  :  "  Oh  !  how  grand  !  How  beautiful !" 

"For  my  part,"  said  Schwartz,  indifferently,  "  I  cannot  say  that  I 
see  any  thing  at  all  rightly,  except  it  be  the  little  branch  down  there, 
with  its  patches  of  meadow  and  corn-fields,  and  its  smoky  cabins.  In 
the  spring  of  the  year,  when  you  cannot  sec  the  cabins  for  the  shaders, 
and  the  corn,  and  oats,  and  meadow  is  all  of  a  color,  it  looks  mightily 
like  a  little  green  snake.  What  it  is  like  just  now,  I  cannot  say,  as  I 
never  saw  one  of  them  snakes  half-scaled,  and  with  a  parcel  of  warts  on 
his  buck  :  but  I  have  a  notion  he  would  look  pretty  much  so.  As  to  any 
thing  else — there  is  something  there,  to  be  sure,  but  what  it  is,  I  am 
sartain  I  could  never  tell,  if  I  did  not  know.  And  as  to  the  distance 
I  hear  some  folks  talk  about — why  the  farther  you  look,  the  less  you 
see,  that's  all;  until  you  get  away  yonder,  t'other  side  of  nowhere ; 
and  then  you  see  just  nothing  at  all." 

"  But  the  vastness  of  the  view!"  said  Arthur.  ''The  idea  of  im- 
mensity !'? 

"As  to  that,"  replied  Schwartz,  "you  have  only  just  to  look  right 
up,  and  you  can  look  a  heap  farther,  and  still  see  nothing.  All  the 
difference  is,  you  know  it  is  nothing;  and  down  there,  you  know  there 
is  something,  and  you  cannot  see  what  it  is." 

"  I  am  afraid  your  eyes  are  bad,"  said  Arthur. 

UI  cannot  see  as  well  as  I  could  once,"  replied  Schwartz;  "but  if 
there  was  anything  to  be  seen  down  there,  I  should  be  right  apt  to  sec 
it.  I  have  clomb  this  hill,  Mr.  Trevor,  when  I  could  sec  the  head  of 
a  nail  in  a  target  fifty  yards  off;  and  drive  it  with  my  rifle;  and  T  don't 
think  I  saw  any  thing  more  then  than  I  do  now;  and  that  is  only  just 
because  there  an't  nothing  there  to  see. — It3od!  but  there  is,  though! 
There's  that  chap  a  coming  along;  and  T  must  see  the  Captain,  and 
tell  him  all  about  it  before  he  comes." 

"I  !<ce  nobody,"  said  Arthur. 

"  That  is  because  you  don't  look  in  the  right  place,"  replied  Schwartz 
"Look  along  the  road." 

u  I  don't  sec  the  road,  except  just  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain." 

"  "Well !  Look  through  the  sights  of  my  rifle.  There  !  Don't  you 
see  a  man  on  horseback  ?" 

"I  see  something  moving,"  said   Arthur;  but   I   cannot  tell  what 

"  Well,"  said  Schwartz,  "  when  he  comes,  you'll  sec  it's  a  man  riding 


TITT    PARTI8AH    LBADER. 

:  ilicii,  may  be,  you'll  think  if  there  was  any  tiling 

.." 

small  whistle,  which  bung  by  a  leathern  throng 

The  signal  was  answered  from  the  point  bf  a 

which  jutted  oat  from  the  fare  of  the  clif?.  not  more 

i  BF.     At  the  same  moment,  a  man  was  seen  to  rise  up 

'..  which  hid  hitherto  concealed  him:  though,  from 

kout  ]1   CO,  he  must  have  hail    a    distinct   view   of  OUT   travellers 

!  they  left  the  valley.     He  now  approached  and  ao- 

\artz  in  a  manner  which    Bhowed  that  he  had  already  rccog- 

-   hwarts  returned   the  salutation,  and,  pointing   out   the 

while  borse,  said:  "If  that   fellow  Bhould  happen  to  get 

Beeing  him,  1  want  you  just  to  fall  in  with  him,  like 

as  if  y  a  was  i  hunting,  and  bo  go  with  him  to  the  piquet     Never  let 

OB  'nit  he  klOWl  all  the  signs,  and  keep  with   him:  and  when  you  get 

him  to  the   piquet,  make   him   believe   that   is    the   camp,  and   that  the 

Captaiu  will  he   there   after  a   while;  and  so  keep  him  there  till  the 

I  001 

Having  said  this,  he  again  turned  his  eye  toward  the  object  moving 

below,  aiel    gaaed   intently  for  a    few  minutes.      Arthur,  in    the  mean 

•  i  admire  the  pfOSpeot,  and  soon   began  to  suspect   that 

rtas'a  ideas  of  the  picturesque  were  not  so  far  wrong.     Indeed, 

:).<  re  IS  nothing  to  admire  from  the   spot,  but  the  road  that  leads  to  it. 

I'  the   mountain   to    the    coast,  there    is   an    expanse  of 

hundred  miles,  with  ho  secondary  ridges.     As  seen  from 

that  elevation,  the  whole  is  level  to  the  eye,  and  presents  one  sheet  of 

rest     Arthur  found  time  to  correct  his  pr<  conceptions  by  the 

ay  of  his  own    senses,  while  Schwartz   c  uitinued    to   observe  the 

taut  traveller.     At   last  he  said:  "That  will  do. 
pped  him;   and  he  will  not  get  away  to-night." 

They  now  moved  on  quietly  through  a  forest  of  lofty  chestnuts,  and 
i  path  which  wound  its  way  among  the  scorched  trunks  of  in- 
ti.it.  d  by  the  fires  that  annually  sweep  through 
such  uninhabited  tracts.  The  soil  Beem<  1  fertile,  and  abounding  in 
luxuriant  though  coarse  pasturage;  and  the  high  table-land  of  the 
mountain  wai  more  level  than  the  peopled  district  below.  Yet  all  was 
solitary  ami  silent  ;  m.r  was  a  vestige  of  habitation  seen  for  miles.  On 
inquiring  th<    Cause  of  this.  Arthur   was   told    that    the  country,  at  that 

elevation,  was  Id  t"  be  inviting,  as  nothing  would  prow  there  but 

.nd  oats,  and  that  it  wn-  all  shingled  over  with  conflicting  patents. 

iThey  thai  claim  the  land,"  .-aid  Schwartz,  "will  not  go  to  law  about 

it  with  one  an  they  would   have  to  survey  it,  and  that 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  17 

would  cost  a  mint  of  money ;  so  they  all  club  to  keep  it  as  a  summer 
range  for  their  stock.     It  belongs  to  some  of  them,  and  that  is  enough." 

He  had  not  long  done  speaking,  when  he  suddenly  stopped,  and, 
raising  his  rifle,  fired,  and  began  quietly  to  load  again. 

"What  did  you  shoot  at?"  asked  Arthur,  looking  in  the  direction  of 
the  shot. 

"A  monstrous  fine  buck,"  replied  Schwartz. 

"Where  is  he  ?     I  did  not  see  him." 

''You  did  not  look  in  the  right  place.  He  is  down  and  kicking; 
and  I  always  like  to  load  my  gun  before  I  go  up  to  them,  because,  you 
see,  a  deer,  when  he  i.s  wounded,  is  as  dangerous  as  a  painter." 

"A.,  painter  I"  said  Arthur.  "What  harm  is  there  in  a  painter, 
more  than  another  man?" 

"01"  said  Schwartz,  laughing,  "  it  an't  no  man  at  all.  I  don't  just 
rightly  know  how  you  high  larnt  gentlemen  call  his  name,  but  he  is  as 
ugly  a  varmint  as  you'd  wish  to  see;  most  like  a  big  cat.  Sometimes 
the  drotted  Yankees  gets  hold  of  them  and  puts  them  in  a  cage;  and 
then  they  call  them  tigers.  I  God!  I  catched  a  }Toung  one  once  and 
sold  him  to  one  of  these  fellows;  and  the  next  time  1  seed  him,  he  was 
carrying  the  cretur  about  with  him  for  a  show.  And  he  did  not  re- 
member me;  and  so  I  axed  him  what  it  was;  and  he  said  'twas  an 
Effriean  tiger  right  from  Duck  river!  Lord!  how  the  folks  did  laugh; 
'cause  you  see,  sir,  Duck  river  is  just  a  little  way  down  here  in  Tennes- 
see, not  over  five  hundred  miles  off";  and  Effrica,  they  tell  me,  is  away 
'."other  side  of  the  herring-pond,  where  the  negurs  come  from." 

By  this  time  the  rifle  was  loaded,  and  they  advanced  toward  the 
fallen  deer.  They  were  quite  near  before  Arthur  discovered  him  ;  and, 
at  the  moment,  the  animal  (a  noble  buck  of  ten  branches)  recovered 
himself  so  far  as  to  rcgaii»  his  feet.  He  still  staggered,  but  the  sud- 
den sight  of  his  enemy  seemed,  at  once,  to  stiffen  his  limbs  with  horror, 
and  give  them  strength  to  support  him.  In  an  instant  his  formidable 
antlers  were  pointed ;  and,  with  eyes  glaring  and  blood-shot,  and  his 
hair  all  turned  the  wrong  way,  he  was  in  act  to  spring  forward.  At 
the  instant,  the  report  of  the  rifle  was  again  heard,  and,  pitching  on 
the  points  of  his  horns,  he  turned  fairly  heels  over  head,  and  lay  with 
his  legs  in  air,  and  quivering  in  death.  Schwartz  now  drew  his  knife 
across  the  animal's  throat,  and  proceeded  to  disembowel  him,  whin 
Arthur  asked  what  he  would  do  with  the  carcass. 

"I'll  just  hang  him  up  in  a  sapling,"  said  he,  "till  I  meet  one  of 
our  men.  There  ought  to  be  one  close  by,  and  I  can  send  him  for  him. 
Where  there's  a  hundred  mouths  to  feed,  such  a  buck  as  this  is  a  ca.sh 
article." 


7IIE    PARTISAN'    LEADER. 

i*  moment  the  napping  of  dry  sticks  caught   his  oar: 
Juoki?  I  man  approaching. 

"  I  don't  know  tha'  f.H-w."  t*ni<l  ho.  looking  hard  it  him.     •■  " 
I  .-nil  make  him  know  mo." 
usual  salutation  now  pteeed,  and  the  stranger  said:  ''If  I  may 
!...].).  Rtruagi  r,  Pd  1"'  glad  to  know  what  )■: 
•  Prom  Peasamaqi  i  1  Sohwarte. 

D  t.  II  Dm-  the  price  of  skins  down  there  away?" 
"Twcntv-tive  r  -nts  :ni<l  R  quarter  a  pound,"  n  j»li.  1  >\hwartz. 

A  few  more  simple  questions  and  out-of-the-way  answers  were  cx- 

.  when  Schwartz.  ftdrirODBIDg  tlie  other,  in  an  under  tone,  said: 
i  an   one  "f  the  new  recruits,  I  reckon  ?     The  other  nodded;  an  1 
w.  nt  <in  to  ask  their  number.     Being  told  they  were  fifty, 
sly  :   ••  Now  there  you  are  wrong.     You   are  right  enough  :  I 
pass  mi-,  after  I   gave   you  the  word;  hut   thru   that's   DO   reason  you 
should   toll  me  anything.     I  just  asked  you,  you  see,  to  give  yeu 
'.  mitioii ;   cause  a  fellow  might   come   along   here    that    would  give   you 
itraight  a<  any  body,  and  he  a  spy  all    the   time,     So  the 
•  way  would  he,  just  to  pass  him   and   beep  dark,  that's  the  rule: 
and,  by  the  time  he'd  find  oat  how  many  men  we've  got,  may  be  he'd 
find  out  something  else  he  would  not  like  quite  so  well.     But  come,  let 
us  take  the  deer  up  to  the  road,  and  you  can  walk  your  post  and  watch 
it.  till  1  can  send  somebody  for  it  from  the  piquet ." 

The  sturdy  mountaineer  at  once  shouldered  the  animal;  and,  strid- 
fclong  to  the  road,  threw  him  down,  and   quietly  betook   him-  .: 
-  the  oheeteuts  that  covered  the  ground.     The  traveller  moved  on, 
and  presently  came  to  the  piquet. 

lb  re  was  |  small  party  quartered  in  a  rude  and  ruinous  cabin,  near 
wlreh  was  an  enclosure  around  a  beautiful  fountain,  that  welled  up 
from  a  natural  basin  of  .-tone.      In  this  were  confined  twenty  or  thirty 

\  few  hones  were  piqueted  at   hand,  and  the  sides  of  1 1 1 ■ 
joining  hills  were  covered  with  a  numerous  herd  of  fat  cattle,  brow* 
on  the  fad.  d.  but  still  succulent  vegetation.     The  time  was  come  wl 
they  should  have  !>■  en  driven  down  for  the  winter,  to  the  farms  of  their 
wi..  1 1 1  .  low,  but  they  were  left  here  that  the  men  might  have  the  use 
•he  milk.     Should    their   hunting  at  anytime  prove   unsuccessful, 
then-  wtfl  always  a  beef  at  hand. 

wartz   was   known,  and   joyfully  welcomed.     He  stopped 

only  to  bell  of  the  deer,  and  moved  on.     u  You  have  a  curious  system 

her.,''  -aid  Arthur;  "I  s^e  the  people  here  know  j'ou,  but   how  did 

.  #  with  that  new  recruit.     I  watched  you,  ami  I  did  not  see 

you  give  him  any  sign,  end  he  did  not  ask  for  a  countersign." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  19 

"That  is  all  because  you  don't  know  what  foolish  answers  I  gave  to 
his  questions.  You  see  we  ha'nt  got  no  countersign  rightly;  'cause 
you  see,  when  I  stop  a  man,  I  want  to  know  who  he  is,  but  I  don't 
want  to  tell  him  any  thing  about  myself.  But  if  I  ax  a  man  for  the 
countersign,  just  so  1  might  as  well  tell  him  I  am  on  guard  at  once. 
So  we've  just  got,  may  be,  twenty  simple  questions;  and  when  we  ask 
them,  our  own  folks  know  what  answer  to  give,  and  the  answer  is  sure 
to  be  one  that  nobody  would  give  unless  he  was  in  the  secret." 
"  And  pray  how  did  you  find  out  that  I  was  Arthur  Trevor  ?" 
"  0  !  nothing  easier,  sir.  That  man,  that  gave  you  the  map,  was 
not  no  more  lame  than  you.  But  I  told  him  to  be  sure  and  not  to  give 
it  to  nobody  but  you,  and  then  to  limp  so  as  you'd  be  sure  to  notice  it. 
You  sec,  it  was  I  that  was  to  try  fall  in  with  you,  and  pilot  you;  but, 
after  that,  I  got  upon  another  scheme.  As  to  the  other  paper,  that 
was  to  serve  you  with  our  folks,  because  there  was  a  mark  there  you 
did  not  notice,  that  any  of  them  would  know;  and  then  they  would  be 
middling  sure  you  were  the  man  you  said  you  were.  They  would  have 
been  civil  to  you,  and  let  you  pass,  but  then  they  would  have  sent  a 
man  or  two  to  the  camp  with  you.  And  now,  Mr.  Trevor,  here  is  some- 
thing that  I  can  s«e,  and  I  have  a  notion  it's  worth  looking  at." 

While  he  was  yet  speaking,  Arthur's  ears  had  been  saluted  by  a 
brawling  sound,  which  he  now  recognized  as  the  rush  of  water.  Turn- 
ing his  head  toward  it,  he  perceived  that  it  proceeded  from  a  deep  and 
shaggy  dell,  which  the  path  was  now  approaching,  and  along  the  verge 
of  which  it  presently  wound.  Here  the  plain  broke  sheer  down  into 
a  gulph  of  vast  depth,  at  the  bottom  of  which  a  considerable  stream 
was  seen.  It  dashed  rapidly  along,  pouring  its  sparkling  waters  over 
successive  barriers  of  yellow  rock,  that  sent  up  a  golden  gleam  from 
beneath  the  crystal  sheet  that  covered  them.  The  mountain-pine,  the 
fir,  the  kalmia,  and  numberless  other  evergreens,  which  nearly  filled 
the  gorge,  afforded  only  occasional  glimpses  of  the  water;  while  they 
set  off  the  picturesque  appearance  of  so  much  as  tin  y  j  emitted  to  be 
seen.  As  they  advanced,  they  came  to  a  part  where  the  trees  had  been 
cut  from  the  brow  of  the  cliff;  and,  several  of  those  below  having  been 
removed,  a  clearer  view  was  afforded 

Here,  at  the  depth  of  two  hundred  feet,  figures  were  soon  moving  to 
and  fro,  while  right  opposite,  under  a  beetling  cliff,  that  screened  them 
from  above,  were   groups  clustered   around   fires,  kindled   against 
rock,  behind  a  rodo  breast-work  of  logs.     The    whole  breadth  of  the 
stream   was  here  to  view,  apparently  twenty  or  thirty  yards 

wide.     Though   shallow,  by  if  its  rapidity  it   seemed   to  pour  a 

vast  volume  of  water. 


i 


Tin  \N    LEADER. 

•  die  cliff,  Schwarti  now  utte-  :\  and 

iaing  their  rifles,  moved  up  the  glen, 

lea  under  the  hank   .>n  Tv)ii ->i    the   travoll< 

,  and  presently  readied  a  point  it  which  the  ]ith, 

tur,  •  to  tli«-  left,  dived  into  the  abyss,  leading  down  :i  rng* 

along  the   face   of   the   cliff,    in    the    direction 

bo  thai  of  tin  ir  approach.     Tt  reached  the  very  bottom,  nearly 

Under  tin'   poin!    from   which  the  shout   of  Schwartz   had  given    notice 
.,f    hi*  i'  Here  he  stopped;  and   requesting   Arthur  to  wait  a 

tided.    Tie  had  not  gone  far  before  his  name  waa 
by  a  docen  voices,  and  immediately  he  wa--  beard   to  I 
Waits;  and  \  have  a  friend  with  me." 
ing  him  down,"  was  the  answer:  upon  whfoh  Sohwarts,  return- 
I  Artliur  to  follow  him,  and   mind   hi!  Arthur 

nd  descend.'],  not  without  some  appearance  of  danger,  BOme- 
:  h  :•   and   sometimes  crawling,  until  he  reached  the  group 
station,  d  at  the  foot  of  this  rude  stair-way.      Here  let  us  leave  hill 
■  while,  and  go  back  to  enquire  who  and  whence  he  was. 


• 


* 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  21 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Handmaid  of  Prudence,  Fortune  comes 

Prompt  to  her  bidding,  ready  to  fulfil 

Her  mistress'  pleasure  ;   whether  she  demand 

The  treasures  of  the  South,  the  applause  of  n.en, 

Or  the  calm  sunshine  of  domestic  bliss. 

Lo  !  they  are  hers!  Anoxykoi;* 

Arthur  Trf.vor  was  the  youngest  son  of  a  gentleman  who  resided 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond.  He  was  a  man  in  affluent  circum- 
stances, and  had  long  and  honorably  filled  various  important  and  digni- 
fied stations  in  the  service  of  his  native  State.  Endowed  with  hand- 
some talents,  and  amiable  disposition,  and  all  the  accomplishments  that 
can  adorn  a  gentleman,  he  added  to  these  the  most  exemplary  virtues. 
His  influence  in  society  had,  of  course,  been  great,  and  though  now,  at 
the  age  of  seventy,  withdrawn  from  public  life,  his  opinions  were  en- 
quired of,  and  his  counsel  sought,  by  all  who  had  access  to  him 
Through  life  he  had  been  remarkable  for  firmness,  and  yet  more  for 
prudence.  The  steadiness  of  his  principles  could  never  be  questioned, 
but,  it  was  thought,  he  had  sometimes  deemed  it  wise  to  compromise, 
when  men  of  less  cautious  temper  would  have  found  safety  in  prudent 
boldness. 

To  this  temperament  had  been  attributed  his  conduct  in  regard  to 
the  politics  of  the  last  twenty  years.  Bred  up  in  the  school  of  State 
lights,  and  thoroughly  imbued  with  its  doctrines,  he  had,  even  before 
that  time,  been  accustomed  to  look,  with  a  jealous  eye,  on  the  progres- 
sive usurpations  of  the  Federal  Government.  In  the  hope  of  arresting 
these,  he  had  exerted  more  than  his  usual  activity  in  aiding  to  put 
down  the  younger  Adams,  and  to  elevate  his  successor.  Though  no 
candidate  for  the  spoils  of  victory,  no  man  rejoiced  more  sincerely  in 
the  result  of  that  contest;  and,  until  the  emanation  of  the  proclamation 
of  December,  1832,  he  had  given  his  hearty  approbation,  and  steady, 
b  quiet  support,  to  the  administration  of 'Andrew  Jackson. 

1  "i  ■  -in  that  moment  hi  seemed  to  look  with  fearful  bodings  on  the 
affairs  of  his  country.  Bia  disapprobation  of  that  instrument  was  ex- 
pressed with  as  much  freedom  and  force  as  was  consistent  with  his 
habitual  reserve  and  moderation.  Il<-  was,  indeed,  alarmed  into  ■  de- 
gree of  excitement  unusual  with   him,  and   might  have  gone  farther 


TBI    r«.!.TI--AN    T.K.U'ER. 

tha-  then   were  di  s  lie 

atirely  disapproved  the  nullifying  ordinance 
I,  though  lir  recognised  the.  right 

rtiiiL:  to  that  remedy.     Ele  waa  ajrarc 

•  ha*  '  is,  thinking   that    its    necessity    would   he 

t  by  all,  feared  that  thai  oonvictiou  might  eema  too,  late. 

:"  Federal  measures  to  weaken  the 
intl  E    ith,  and  to  increase  the  -  of  their 

and  those  of  the  General  Government     Beaee 
that  whenever  Virginia,  or  any  other  of  the  slave-holding 
tuld  find  itself  driven  t.>  seoessioB,  the  other  party,  in  the 
superior  strength,  might  he  tempted  forcibly  to  resist  the 
•    tl      :     ht.      They  thus  arrived   at    the  conclusion   that  sepa- 
ration   |  whioh    they  deemed   inevitable)    to   be    peaceable,    must   ho 

ia  had  been  laid  before  Mr.  Trevor,  and.  in  proportion  to 

irgency  with  which  they  wore   pressed,  was   his    alarm  and  his  ui>- 

•i"ii  to  adhere  to  the  Union,     lie.  at  last,  had  broughl  himself  to 

v  union,  on  any  terms,   better   than    disunion,  under  any  eirnim- 

les  er  evil,   therefore,  he  determined   to  forget  the 

itiou,  and.  striving  to  reconcile  himself  to  all  the   aot>   of  the 

tinistratlbn,  he  regarded  every  attempt  to  unite  the  Smith,  in  BUp- 

'  ern  president,  aa  a  jo-elude  to  the  formation  oi  a  southeni 

By  consequence,  he  became  a  partisan  of  Martin  Van 

Buren;  and  united  with   Ritchie,  and  others  of  the  same  kidney,  in 

ing  to  Bubdue  the  spirit,  and  tame  down   the  State  pride  of 

inia.     These  endeavors,  aided  by  the  lavish  use  of  federal  patron- 

in  the  State,  were  bo  far  successful,  thai  when,  at   the  end  of  Van 

Ban  -it.  'in,  he  demanded  a  third   election,  she  alone,   in  the 

South,  .supported  his  pretensions. 

loyment  of  the  Baine  pernicious  influences,  the 

aghout  the  State  had   been   sn  regulated,  as  tn  produce 

F  a  majority  <<\'  members  devoted  lo  the  views  of  the  usurper. 

!  until  the  Bpring  of  1>  lv.  at  which  time  the  results 

•    jcntially  the  same  which  bad  taken  place  since 

Virginia,at  one  stroke  of  the  pen  i  punyed 

of  honor,  <  tpunged  the  history  of  all  her 

Prom    that   time    the   land  of  Washington, 

■  I  Jefferson,  Madison,  and  Randolph,  sunk  to 

red  and  managed  by  the  Rivesea  and 

I  .   the   Watkinses  and  "Wilsons, 

;ncc  to  1"  rn   history  depends,  like  that  of  Eros- 


THE    TARTISAN  LEADER.  Z6 

tratus,  on  the  glories  of  that  temple  of  liberty  which  they  first  desecra- 
ted and  then  destroyed. 

'•  Where  once  the  Caesars  dwelt, 

"  There  dwelt,  tuneless,  the  birds  of  ni^ht."1 

From  some  cause,  not  understood  at  the  time,  an  unexpected  reaction 
had  taken  place  between  the  spring  elections  and  the  recurrence  of  that 
form  of  presidential  election  in  the  fall,  the  observance  of  which  was 
still  deemed  necessary  to  display,  and,  by  displaying,  to  perpetuate  the 
usurper's  power.  This  reaction  appeared  to  show  itself  chiefly  in  those 
counties  heretofore  most  distinguished  ibr  their  loyalty.  It  would  have 
seemed  as  if  the  spirit  of  John  Randolph  had  risen  from  the  sleep  oi 
death,  and  walked  abroad  through  the  scenes  where  his  youthful  shoul- 
ders had  received  the  mantle  of  his  eloquence  from  the  hand  of  Henry. 
For  the  first  time,  in  twelve  years,  the  vote  of  Virginia  was  recorded 
against  the  re-election  of  Martin  Van  Buren  to  the  presidential  throne. 

But  not  the  less  subservient  were  the  proceedings  of  the  Legislature 
elected  for  his  use,  the  spring  before.  Yet  enough  had  been  doue  to 
justify  the  hope  that  the  ancient  spirit  of  old  Virginia  would  yet  show 
itself  in  the  descendants  of  the  men  who  had  defied  Cromwell,  in  the 
plenitude  of  his  power,  and  had  cast  off  the  yoke  of  George  the  Third, 
without  waiting  for  the  co-operation  of  the  other  colonies.  At  the 
same  time,  the  power  and  the  will  of  a  fixed  majority  in  the  North,  to 
.Live  a  master  to  the  South,  had  been  made  manifest.  It  was  clearly 
seen,  too,  that  he  had  determined  to  use  the  power  thus  obtained,  and 
to  administer  the  government  solely  with  a  view  to  the  interest  of  that 
sectional  faction,  by  which  he  had  been  supported.  "  Vic  victis .'" 
"Woe  to  the  vanquished !"  was  the  word.  It  had  gone  forth;  and 
northern  cupidity  and  northern  fanaticism  were  seen  to  march,  hand  in 
hand,  to  the  plunder  and  desolation  of  the  South. 

Filler  these  circumstances,  the  southern  States  had  been,  at  length, 
forced  to  sec  that  the  day  for  decisive  action  had  arrived.  They  there- 
fore determined  u  longer  to  abide  the  obligations  of  a  constitution,  the 
forms  of  which  alone  remained,  and  having,  by  a  movement  nearly 
nmultaneoos,  settded  from  the  Union,  they  hud  immediately  formed  a 
southern  confederacy.  The  suddenness  of  these  measuics  was  lesf 
markable  than  the  prudence  with  which  they  had  been  conducted. 
The  two  together  left  little  doubt  that  there  had  been  a  preconcert 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  several  States,  arranging  provisionally 
what  should  be  done,  whenever  circum.-tances  should  throw  power  into 
hands  of  those  whom,  at  the   bidding  of  the  usurper,  the  people   had 


THR    PAr.TISAN    I 

:    tl,.  ir  ••  •■unci!-       I:  is  now  known   that  tli.ro  I 

•no.      In  Virginia, 

n  iim  n  who  entered  into  the  same  viewe.     BqI  while  the 

!  tli.it  mi  decisive  step  would  l»o   taken   by  the  more 

thovt  her  cooperation,  lie  had  devoted  all  1. 

1  indirect,  to  <•  nitrol  and   influonco  her   election.     Of  tuinul- 

I  ad  no  fear.    The  organised  operation  of  the 

r.rnniont    wat   what    ho  dreaded.     By  this  alono    cmld    the 

.n  ho  effected  ;  and  this  was  effectually  pn  V(  nted  by 

rating  oa  the  elections  of  Members  of  the  Legislature.     From  the 

■  riil.tr  Tote  on  the  presidential  election,  less   evil    had   been  K]  ; 

das  had  been  taken  to  control  it.     In  consequence  of 

mora  of  the   real   sentiments   of  the   people   had   boon 

allowed  to  appear  on  that,  occasion  ;  and.   from   this  manifestation,  the 

thern  States  wore  encouraged  to  hope  for  the  ultimate  accession 

•    Virginia  to  their  confederacy.     They  had  therefore  determined  to 

wait  for  her  DO  longer,  but  to  proceed  to  the  execution   of  their  plan, 

li  -iviiiL'  her  to  follow. 

The  disposition  of  the  usurper,  at  fir.-t,  was  to  treat   them 
•noes;  and  to  take  measures  for  putting  down,  by  force,  their  v. 
to  bifl  authority.      But  circumstances,  to  be   mentioned   1 
it  impolitic  to  resort  to  this  measure;     But  these  did  not  operate 
revenl  him  from  using  the  mast  efficacious  means   to   prevent  Vir- 
ginia i'roui  following  theii  example.     Though  restrained  from  attacking 
them,  nothing  prevented  him  from  affecting  to  fear  an  attack  from 
tbn  in.     This  gave  a  pretext  for  raising  troops;  and  the  position  of  Yir- 
the  frontier   State,  afforded    an    excuse   for   stationing   them 
;  ,u  her  border*,      [fader  these  pretences,  small  corps  were  establish- 
ed in  many  of  the  disaffected  counties.     Should  the  presence  of  tl, 
be  ineffectual  to  secure  the  return  of  delegatoa  devoted   to  the  erown, 
•  cut  ity  was  taken   against  the   aotlOO    of  the    Legislature. 

Richmond,  the  seat  of  government,  became  the  head-qnarters  of  the 

arm]  rration,  U  it  was  called,  and,  surrounded  by  this,  the  mock 

tlie  General  Assembly  were  to  be  held, 
money  thus  thrown  into  the  ooonta  d  the  corrupt,  while 

terror  subdued  the  timid.     On  Mr.  Trevor,  who  was  neither,  th 

things  had  I  e.iiiirary  etlct.       Ho   now,  when  it  WAS   too    late,  saw  and 

of  his  former  Qvenaansion.     He  now  began  to  ana* 
that  they  had  been  right  who  had  urged  him,  eighteen  y,  irs  be- 
fore, to  hud  oil  aid  in  the  work  of  arousing  the  people  to  a  sense  of 
their  danger,  and  preparing  them  to  meet  it  as  one  man 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  25 


CHAPTER    V. 

A  =p»r.ge  that  soaks  \iy>  the  King"?  countenance. 

Hamlet. 

A  mono  those  who  had  been  most  prompt  to  take  this  view  of  flie 
subject,  and  most  vehement  in  recommending  it,  was  a  younger  brother 
of  Mr.  Trevor.  In  all,  but  the  great  essentials  of  moral  worth,  this 
gentleman  was  the  very  reverse  of  Iris  brother.  The  difference  was, 
perhaps,  mainly  attributable  to  the  character  of  his  intellect.  Quick 
in  conception,  and  clear  in  his  views,  he  was  strong  in  his  convictions, 
and  habitually  satisfied  with  his  conclusions.  This,  added  to  a  hasty 
temper,  gave  him  the  appearance  and  character  of  a  man  rash,  incon- 
siderate, and  precipitate,  always  in  advance  of  the  progress  of  public 
opinion,  and  too  impatient  to  wait  for  it.  His  ill  success  in  life  seemed 
to  justify  this  construction.  Though  eminently  gifted  by  nature,  and 
possessing  all  the  advantages  of  education,  he  had  never  occupied  any 
of  those  stations  in  which  distinction  is  to  be  gained.  In  his  private 
affairs,"  he  had  been  alike  unpjosperous.  Though  his  habits  were  not 
expensive,  his  patrimony  had  been  but  little  increased  by  his  own  ex- 
ertions. He  had  married  a  lady  of  handsome  property,  but  had  added 
little  to  it.  With  only  two  daughters,  he  had  not  the  means  of  endow- 
ing them  with  more  than  a  decent  competency;  while  his  elder  brother, 
with  a  family  of  a  dozen  children,  had  educated  the  whole,  had  provi- 
ded handsomely  for  such  as  had  set  out  io  life,  and  retained  the  where- 
withal to  give  the  rest  nearly  as  much  as  the  children  of  the  younger 
could  e.\pc<t.  In  short,  the  career  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor  had  been  one 
of  uninterrupted  prosperity.  In  all  his  undertakings  he  had  been 
successful.  Wealth  had  flowed  into  his  coffers,  and  honors  had  been 
showered  on  his  head.  "  When  the  eye  saw  him,  then  it  blessed  him." 
Men  pointed  him  out  to  their  children,  and  said  to  them:  "  Copy  his 
example,  and  follow  in  his  steps. " 

The  life  of  B-rnard,  the  younger  brother,  had  been  passed  in  com- 
parative obscurity  Beloved  by  a  few,  but  misunderstood  by  many,  his 
existence  was  unknown  to  the  multitude,  and  unheeded  by  most  who 
were  aware  of  it.  Tin  v,  indeed,  who  knew  him  well,  saw  in  him  qual- 
ities which,  under  discreet  regulation,  might  have  wen  for  him  distine- 
tion  and  affluence.     None  knew  him  better,  and   none  saw  this  more 


THE   PAETXftAl    1- 

th<  r.     X"  dub  •  radii   fur 

and  oonuaoa  m  aee.      A  habit  of 

,;ics. 

•i»i<  in  nf  ilio  mi  ml  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor;  and,  as 

Land    intuitive    Bernard  WAS  £   ii.  tin  ml  v  the    fir-'    to    t  MM  to  a 

.     d,  the  leno  I  toat  created,  in  the  other,  a  prediapoeition 

;  ni  result     In  proportion  ai  '1'  '.  bo 

ibt     When  toe  former  was  ardent,  the  latter 

and  in  all  matters  in  which   they  had   a  COOBIOOa  intoigflt, 

igat  of  Hugh  tttrex  failed  to  see  a  lion  in  the  path 

%vh  They  were  the  opposil  I  the 

The  clear   convictions   ul'  the    latter  on   the   subject  of 

.  had  shaken  the  faith  of  the  former  in  his  own.  and  had  finally 

driven  him   t<>   the   conclusion  already  intimated,  "  that  union,  oh  any 

Iter  th  1/1  disunion,,  wider  any  circumstance*  " 

The  same  habit  of  thinking  bad  retarded  the  change,  which  the 

M  flf  tin-  last  three  years  had    been    working  in    the    mind    of  Mr. 

Bogh  Trevor.      His  native  Candor  and  modesty  made  it  easy  for  him  to 

believe  that  he  had  been  wrong;  and.  being  convinced  of  error,  10  ad- 
mit it.     Bat  a  Corollary  from  this  admission  would   be,  that  the   incon- 
rate  and  imprudent  Bernard  had,  all  the  time,  been  right     of  the 

BUch  an  admission  Mr.  Trevor  felt  an  habitual  ditiidence, 
that  made  him  among  the  last  to  avuw  a  change  of  opinion  which, 
peri  :iHiiced  in  no  mind   sooner  than   in  his.      But  the  change 

now  oomplete,  and  it  brought  to  the  conaoientious  old  genth  man  a 

.ction  that  on  him,  above   all   men,  it  was    incumbent    to   .-pare  no 
10    in  his  power  to  remove  the  mischiefs  of  which   he   felt  his  own 
supin  arc  In  en  in  part  tie 

lb     Mil    now  a    private    man;   but    he    had    SOUS.      To  have   given  a 

to  their  political  course,  might  not  haw  been  difficult    liut, 
.a  the  act  of  repenting  an  acknowledged  error,  how  could  he  presume 

i   00  hifl  new  eonvictioBS,  aS  to  endeavor  to  bind  them  00  the  minds 

sa  right  to  use  any  portion  of  his  paternal  influ- 

'        purpose  of  giving    to    tho   future   course    of  his  children'.-* 

''■   S    tendon Cy    sa    might    lead    them    into    error,  to    the  disap- 

. 'merit  of  their  hopes,  and  perhaps  to  crime?      The  answer  to  these 

■  I    s  determination  is  leave  them  to  their  own  thoughts, 

-    might  throw  upon  these  impor- 

• 

It  hap]..  ie<l  uni" .rtunat.ly,  that,  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Van  Huron's 

accession  to  the  pr<  had  just  reached  that  time 

if  life  wl  oee  a  profession.     Without  any  par- 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  27 

tieular  purpose  of  devoting  him  to  the  army,  he  had  been  educated  at 
West  Point.  The  favor  of  \  'resident  Jackson  had  offered  this  advantage, 
which,  by  the  father  of  so  large  a  family,  was  not  to  be  declined.  But 
the  young  man  acquired  a  taste  for  military  life,  and,  as  there  was  no 
man  in  Virginia  whom  the  new  President  was  more  desirous  to  bind  to 
his  service  than  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor,  his  wishes  had  been  ascertained, 
and  the  ready  advancement  of  his  son  was  the  consequence.  The  pro- 
motion of  Owen  Trevor  had  accordingly  been  hastened  by  all  means 
'•"nsistent  with  the  rules  of  the  service.  Even  these  were  sometimes 
violated  in  his  favor.  In  one  instance,  he  had  been  elevated  over  the 
head  of  a  senior  officer  of  acknowledged  merit.  The  impatience  of  this 
gentleman,  which  tempted  him  to  offer  his  resignation,  had  been  soothed 
by  a  staff  appointment,  accompanied  by  an  understanding  that  he 
should  not,  unnecessarily,  be  placed  under  the  immediate  command  of 
v.iung  Trevor.  The  latter,  at  the  date  of  which  we  speak,  had  risen  to 
the  command  of  a  regiment,  which  was  now  encamped  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Washington,  in  daily  expectation  of  being  ordered  on  ac- 
tive duty. 

I  'nlunel  Owen  Trevor  had  received  his  first  impressions  on  political 
subjects  at  a  time  when  circumstances  made  his  father  anxious  to  es- 
tablish in  his  mind  a  conviction  that  union  was  the  one  thing  needful. 
To  the  maintenance  of  this  he  had  taught  him  to  devote  himself,  and, 
overlooking  his  allegiance  to  his  native  State,  to  consider  himself  as  the 
-wum  soldier  of  the  Federal  Government.  It  was  certainly  not  the 
wish  of  Mr.  Trevor  to  teach  his  son  to  regard  Virginia  merely  as  a  mu- 
nicipal division  of  a  great  consolidated  empire.  Put  while  he  taught 
him  to  act  on  precepts  which  seemed  drawn  from  such  premises,  it  was 
natural  that  the  young  man  should  adopt  them. 

lie  did  adopt  them.  lie  had  learned  to  deride  the  idea  of  State 
sovereignty,  and  his  long  residence  in  the  North  had  given  him  a  dis- 
gust at  all  that  is  peculiar  in  the  manners,  habits,  institutions, 'and 
character  of  Virginia.  Among  his  boon  companions  he  1.  id  been  ac- 
customed to  express  these  sentiments,  and,  being  repeated  at  court,  they 
had  made  him  a  favorite  there.  He  had  been  treated  by  the  President 
with  distinguished  attention.  Tic  seemed  honored,  too.  with  the  pcr- 
1  friendship  of  that  favorite  sun  whom  he  had  elevated  to  the  chief 
command  of  the  army.  Him  he  had  consecrated  totherpurple  :  proposing 
,  him  the  mantle  of  his  authority,  so  as  to  unite,  in  the  person 
of  his  chosen  sua  whole  military  and   civil  power  of  the  em- 

pire. 

It  was  impossible  that  a   joung  man   like  Col.  Trevor  should   fail  to 
himself  flattered  by  such  notice.     He  had  been  thought,  when  a 


1>  :.TI.-AN    I.KADBB. 

.  and  his  devotion  to  hk  pan 

the  account  of   gratitude  by  Hi 
loot,  on   his  port]  was  anxiously  watching  for  an 
■nal   zeal,  which    is  so  stroii-  a  re 

n  to  the  favor  of  tl  intimated  to  Cel.  Tn 

nothing  was  wonting  to  ensure  him  speedy  promotion  to  the  rank 

v, hii'Ii  might  be  magnified,  I 
too  pretext  ft*  advancing  him  beyond  hit  equals  in 
\]j:    •  !  "i'  this,  he  burned  for  active  employment;  and  earn' 

1  to  1"-  inarched  to  the  theatre  of  war. 

-  in  Virginia.     Bat  lie  had  long  since  ceased  to  at- 

tri!  reonality  to  the  State,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  00 

i  lun.  that  the  en<  tniee,  against  whom  he  was  t<>  art,  had 

a   born  or  resided  there.    Personally,  they  were  atmngers  to  him  ; 

;ily  knew  tin  in  as  men  denying  the  supremacy  of  the  Federal 

iment and  hostile  to  the  President  and  his  intended  Buoeet 

:i.  indeed,  he  might  possibly  meet  in  arms  whom  he  would 
gladly  avoid.     Bis  younger  brother,  Donglas  Trevor,  had  been,  like 

him  at    \\\  .~t    Point,   had   entered   the  army,  and   served 

rs.      Having  spent  a  winter  at    home,  it  was  suspected  that  he 

had  become  infected  with   the  treasonable  heresies  of  Southern  poli- 
had   resigned  his  commissioo  and  travelled  into  South 

I  *  of  this  journey  on  his  mind  was    not  a  matter  of 

i  had  1     a    receive/]  from  him  by  his  brother  and  i 

ial  -.  if  his  own  regiment,  avowing  a  total  change  of  senti- 

m.  nt.     These  letters  left  no  doubt  that  should  Virginia  declare  for  sa- 

ollision    between  the  Southern    League  and 
the  old   I  ttCS,  he  would   be   found    fighting   against    the   latter. 

The  avowal   of  such   sentiments  and   purposes   had   so  exeited   the  dis- 

I  mel,  that  l.o  had  cut  sliort  the  correspondence  by 
that  be  might  never  again  be  reminded  that  he  was  the  .bro- 
•!'  a  traitor.      Hi.-  litter,  to  this  effect,  being   laid   before  the  com- 
mand, r  in-ehief,  had  given   the  ini-l    dcei.MVe   proof  of  the  zeal  of  mi  • 
r  an  1  tli,-  ,\,  |,  Btion  of   the  <.thcl\ 

rthia  had  been  brought  ahoutj  CoL  Trevor  knew  not.     II 

any   alteration    i»    blS   father's   sentiment.-;   and,  indeed, 

i  1  nut  been  so,  at  the  time  when  he  was  awakened  to 

and  his  OWn  duty.      The  change  in  his 

mind    h  r  mght    by  other  means  ;    for   his  father  was,  at  that 

with  him,  to  doubt  was  to  be  profoundly  silent. 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  29 


CHATTER   VI 


The  boy  is  grown 


So  like  your  brothel1  that  he  seems  his  own. — CrtAEFi:. 

Difference  of  political  opinion  had  produced  no  estrangement  be- 
tween Mr.  Hugh  Trevor  and  his  brother,  though  it  had  interrupted 
their  intercourse  by  rendering  it  less  agreeable.  Men  cannot  take 
much  pleasure  in  each  other's  society  when  the  subject  on  which  both 
think  and  feel  most  deeply  is  one  on  which  they  widely  differ.  They 
accordingly  saw  little  of  each  other,  though  an  occasional  letter  passed 
between  them  in  token  of  unabated  affection. 

I  believe  I  have  mentioned  that  the  children  of  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor 
were  both  daughters.  The  eldest,  then  seventeen  years  of  age,  had 
been  invited  to  spend  with  her  uncle,  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond,  the 
winter  of  Douglas's  furlough.  He  was  at  that  time  about  five-and^ 
twenty.  His  long  residence  in  the  Xorth  had  not  weaned  him  from 
his  native  State.  He  had  not  been  flattered  into  a  contempt  of  every- 
thing Virginian.  Neither  his  age  nor  rank  gave  him  consequence 
enough  to  be  the  object  of  that  sort  of  attention.  Perhaps,  too,  it  had 
been  seen  that  he  was  a  less  fit  subject  for  it  than  his  elder  brother. 
Though  much  the  younger,  he  had  a  range,  originality,  and  indepen- 
dence of  thought,  of  which  the  other  was  incapable.  Resting  in  the 
esteem  of  his  friends  and  the  approbation  of  his  own  conscience,  the 
applause  of  the  multitude,  the  flattery  of  sycophants,  and  the  seducing 
attentions  of  superiors,  had  small  charms  for  him.  His  heart  had  never 
ceased  to  glow  at  the  name  of  Virginia,  and  he  returned  to  her  as  the 
wanderer  should  return  to  the  bosom  of  his  home — to  his  friends — to 
his  native  land.  In  appearance,  manners,  and  intelligence,  he  was 
much  improved ;  in  feeling,  the  same  warm-hearted,  generous,  unso- 
phisticated youth,  as  formerly. 

In  the  meantime,  his  cousin  Delia  had  already  reached  his  father's 
house,  and  was  domesticated  in  the  family.  There  she  found  the 
younger  brothers  and  sixers  of  Douglas  Impatiently  expecting  his  ar- 
rival, and  so  much  occupied  with  the  thought  of  him,  that,  had  she 
been  of  a  jealous  disposition,  she  might  have  deemed  her  w<  Icome 
somewhat  careless.  Rut  she  already  knew  her  cousins,  her  uncle,  and 
her  aunt.     This  was  not  the  first  time  that  their  houec  wa?  her  tempo- 


H  THE    PARTISAK    L 

I  leaned  (  If  as  one  of  the  fan 

•cd  to  eater  into  all  their  feeling*.     Dong! 
ytx&  ■  Daring  his  long  .  hie  heart  had 

.  th(  in.     In  tliis  he  differed  widely  from  Owen,  in 
-  of  an  idle  life  and  the  Bah*  mes  of  ambition  had 
•    of  tli<'  simple  joys  of  his  childhood's  home.     The 
u  him  and  Douglas,  in  this  ratpeet,  rendered  the  latter 
popular  with  the  singlcdiearted  beings  who  were  impatiently 
iin. 
remember  brother  DooglasZ"  Mid  Virginia  Trevor, 
..   younger  than   Delia*    '•Mamma  say*  you  were  a  great 

with  him  when  a  child,  and  qadd  to  call  him  your  Douglas." 

"  I  could   i    i  Lave  been  more  than  three  years  old  at  the  time  you 
i  Delia ;  "but  1  have  heard  of  it  so  often,  that  1 
Bomber  it.     ]>ut,  of  course,  I  do  net  remember  him." 
'•  And,  of   course,  he   docs   aot  remember  you,"  said   Mrs.  T' 
••  At  I<  :.-t,  he  would  not   know  you.      lint  I  doubt   if   he  ere?  has  for- 
ked you,  as  you  were  then.      lie  was  to  be  your  husband,  you  km>w  : 
and  your  father  gave  him  a  set  of  rules  to  walk  by.      lb-  was   to   d 
.and  mi,  and  to  be  so  and  so;   and    Harry  Banfbrd  was  to  be   his  model 
lie  said  nothing  about  it;  but  "  Sanford  and  Morton  "  was  hardly  ever 
fit  Of  bis  bands,  and  We  could  see  that   he  was  always  trying  to  s<^uar* 
iet  bv  your  father's  maxims.      I  believe  in   my  heart  it  made   i 
difference  in  the  boy;  and  that  is  the  reason  why  he  is  less  like  hi.- 
and  more  like  yours,  than  any  of  the  rest  of  my  1" 

•■  1  shall  certainly  love  him,  then,"  said  Delia,  her  eyes  filling  as  she 

spoke,  •'  If  he  is  like  my  dear  old  father." 

"Indeed,  and   you   may,"  said    Mrs.  Trevor;    "but   for   all   that. 
tld  rather  have  him  like  his  own  Father.     But  you  must  not  be  af- 
fronted, Delia;  you  know  I  claim  the  right  t"  bra.:  about  my  old  i: 
'  him  up  over  everybody — even  the  President  himself." 
••  1  the  President,"    said  Delia,  "'but  I  should  be  sorry  t  • 

my  father  with  him." 
•■  1    can  assure  you,"  replied  the  aunt,  "  there  are  very  few  men  that 
•  ;  arison.     0  !  he  is  the  most  elegant,  agreeabh 
til  loan,  tint  ever   I  -aw." 

•  my  nnoli ."  said  Delia,  smiling, 
"rahaw!     Y  ire,    I  always  except  him." 

"  /  will  i'  ■  'ny  fatfar,"  said    Delia,  gravely.     "  I  should  apt 

like  to  hear  him  and  Martin  Van  Buren  praised  in  the  .sime  breath." 
"  Well,  my  dear,"    said   the   gouddiuniured    old   lady,  "  wc  must  not 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER,  31 

quarrel  about  it  ;  but  you  must  take  care  not  to  talk  so  before  Dough.-, 
because  he  is  tbe  President's  soldier." 

'•  I  thought,"  said  Delia,  "  be  was  in  tbc  service  of  tbe  United  States." 
"  Well  I   and   is   not  tbat  all  the  same  thing  ?     /do  not  pretend  to 
know  anything  about  it ;  but  my  husband  says  so,  and  that  is  enough 
for  me." 

Mr.  Trevor,  who  bad  sat  by  the  while,  listening,  with  grave  compla- 
cency, now  said :  "  I  am  afraid  you  don't  report  me  truly,  my  dear." 
Then,  extending  his  hand  to  Delia,  he  drew  her  gently  to  him,  and 
placing  her  on  his  knee,  kissed  her.  "  You  are  a  good  girl,"  said  he. 
'•  and  shall  love  and  honor  your  father  as  much  as  you  please.  He  is  a 
noble,  generous  man,  and  a  wise  man,  too.  I  would  to  God,"  %i 
be,  sighing  heavily,  "  that  I  bad  bad  half  his  wisdom." 

"Why,  bless  my  soul,  Mr.  Trevor!"  exclaimed  his  wife,  "  what  does 
this  mean  ?" 

"  Nothing,"  replied  be,  "but  a  just  compliment  to  the  self-renoun- 
cing generosity  and  far-sighted  sagacity  of  my  brother." 

Saying  this,  he  rose  and  left  the  room,  while  his  wife  gazed  after  him 
in  amazement.  She  had  never  heard  him  say  so  much  before,  and  now 
perceived  that  he  had  thoughts  that  she  was  not  apprised  of.  Believ- 
ing him  faultless  and  incapable  of  error,  even  when  he  differed  from 
himslf,  she  at  once  concluded  that  she  had  lost  her  cue,  and  deter- 
mined to  say  no  more  about  politics  until  she  recovered  it;  but  he 
never  adverted  to  the  subject  again,  in  her  presence,  during  tbe  whole 
winter,  and  her  niece,  consequently;  heard  no  farther  allusion'  to  it  from 
her. 

This  was  no  unwelcome  relief  to  Delia.     She  was  no  politician,  but 
she  was  not  incapable   of  understanding  what  passed  in   her  presence 
on   the  subject,  except  when   the   interlocutors   ehose  to  mystify  their 
meaning.     Her  father,  a  man   of  no  reserves,  never  spoke  but  with  a 
purpose  of  expressing  his  thoughts  clearly  and  fully;  and  no  man  bet- 
tor  knew  how  to  express  them   than   he.     Though  deficient,  as  I  have 
said,  in  that  cold  prudence  which  takes  advantage  of  circumstance.-, 
was  eminently  trifled  with  that  more  vigorous  faculty  which  mnk's  :,, 
In  the  piping  times  of  peace,  he  was  a  man  of  no  mark  ;  but  wlu  • 
ciety  was  breaking  up  from  its  foundations,  he  was  the  man  with  whom 
the  timid  and  doubting  would  seek   safety  and   counsel.      Infirmity 
now  overtaken  him,  and  he  could  do  little    more  than  think  and  speak 
Consulted  by  all  the  bold   spirits  who  sought  to  lift  Up,  from  the  du  •'. 
the  soiled  and  tattered  banner  of  his   native  State,  and  spread  it  I 
wind,  lie   nc\  diverse  freely  with  such,  and  often   in    I 

presence  of  his  daughters. 


Til: 

he  bad  net  imbued   them  with  hi:-  opiaioi 
minds  with  the  arguments   hy  which    Im  v. 
i,  h<  had  made  them  lull  partaken  of  hit  It 

if  lu-   had   a    porpOM  in  this.      What   that    pur- 

waf.  One  end,  at   least,  it  answered.     Et  inert 

uion  of  lii-  powera,  their  confidence  in  his  wisdom,  and  their 

rson.     Mrs.  Hugh  Trevor  herself  did  not  hold  bet  bus- 

than  w.i-  oharished  by  Delia  for  that 

■  |  f:ith«  r. 

And  aeter  did  man  beta*  r  des<  rv<  th<  oonfiding  affection  of  a  daugh- 

11c  had  been  her  principal  instrnctor  from   infancy.     He  had 

ted  her  mind;  he  had  trained  her  tu  self-oommand,  and  taught  her 

.   happiness  in  virtue.      Educated  at  heme,  her  manners  were 

in  a  domestic  eirele — characterized  by  refinement,  and  deli- 
.  but  frank  propriety.     Her  love  of  reading  had  been  cultivated  by 
throwing  books   in  her  way;  and,  the  taste  once  formed,  her  attention 
had  been  directed  to  snob  as  might  best  qualify  her  for  the  dutu 
woman'.-  only  appropriate  station.     Herein  she  had  an  example  in  her 
mother,  a  lady  of  the  old  Bohool,  courteoaa  and  gentle,  but  high-spirit- 
:  >us,  and  full  of  her  husband's  enthusiasm  iii  the  cause  of  his 
try.     Mr.  Bernard  Trevor  was  indeed,  a  man  to  be  loved  passion- 
ately, if  loved  at  all;  ami  to  shed  the  vivid  hue  of  his  mind  on  those  of 
his  ;  It  was  the  delight  of  his  wile  to  witness  and  to  cherish 

the  dutiful  affection   and   ardent  admiration  of  her  daughters  for  their 
father.     The  consequence  was,  that  his  power  over  their  thoughts,  Icel- 
and inclinations  was  unbounded. 
It  will  be   readily  believed   that,  in  the   miml  of    iKiia  Trevor,  (bus 
I  n  toecupiod,  there  was  no  room   for  any  very  favorable   predispositions 
td  a  young  man  trained   from   bis  boyhood  in  the  scrviee  of  her 
Btry'l  op]  i  She  had  heard  his  mother  speak    of  him   as  the 

lier  of  the  arch-enemy  of  her  beloved  Virginia,  and  a  scnti- 
menl  of  abhorrence  arose  in  her  mind  at  the  words  ;  but  .-he  reflected 
that  be  was  her  cousin  ;  the  son  of  her  good  nncle  ;  the  brother  of  her 
dearest  friend  ;  and,  trying  to  remember  bis  fondness  for  her  when  a 

child,  IBM    i  1.:  i'  '1  down  the  feeling  Oi  disgust,  as  unnatural  and  wicked. 

1'ut.  alu  r  all  this  discipline  of  her  own   mind,  she  found  it  impossible 

t'.    think    of    him  with  complacency,  or   to   anticipate   his   arrival  with 

11-  r    imagination    always  painted   him   in  the  hateful  dress 

wh  ii  taught  to  regard  as  the  badge  of  slavery — the  liv- 

nt.     She  would   try  to   love   him,  as  a  kinsman,  but  she 

tld  like  him  or  respect  him. 

At   length   lie  mud-.-   bis  appearance,  and,  to  her  great  relief,  in  the 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  33 

plain  attire  of  a  citizen.  He  was  a  handsome  youth,  whose  native 
.  grace  had  been  improved  by  his  military  education,  and  in  his  man- 
ners uniting  the  frankness  of  a  boy  with  the  polish  and  elegance  of  an 
accomplished  gentleman.  "Whether  he  had  been  admonished  by  his 
father  to  respect  the  feelings  of  his  fair  cousin,  or  had  caught  his  re- 
serve, on  the  subject  of  politics,  by  contagion,  she  had  no  means  of 
knowing.  Certain  it  is,  that  on  that  subject  he  was  uniformly  silent, 
and  Delia  soon  learned  to  converse  with  him  on  other  topics  without 
dreading  an  allusion  to  that.  She  thus  saw  him  as  he  was,  and,  by  de- 
grees, lost  the  prejudice  which,  for  a  time,  blinded  her  to  any  merit  he 
might  po?^ 

And  he  did  possess  great  merit.  A  high  sense  of  honor,  strict 
principles,  great  openness  and  generosity,  were  united  in  him  with 
talents  of  no  common  order.  Quick,  apprehensive,  and  clear  in  his 
perceptions,  there  was  a  boldness,  vividness,  and  distinctness  in  his 
thoughts  and  language  that  continually  reminded  her  of  him  she  most 
loved  and  honored.  Of  her  father  he  frequently  spoke  with  great  ven- 
eration and  affection.  He  remembered,  as  his  mother  had  conjectured, 
many  of  his  uncle's  precepts.  He  frequently  quoted  them  as  of  high 
authority  with  him;  and  it  was  plain  to  see  that,  cherished  during  four- 
teen years,  they  had  exercised  a  decided  influence  in  the  formation  of 
his  character.  Indeed,  it  might  be  doubted  whether  his  imagination 
had  ever  dismissed  the  idea  which  had  first  disposed  him  to  lend  a 
willing  ear  to  the  suggestions  of  his  uncle.  That  which  was  sport  to 
the  elder  mojnbers  of  the  family,  had  seemed  to  him,  at  the  time,  a  se- 
rious business.  The  thought  that  the  little  girl  who  loved  to  hang  on 
his  neck  and  kiss  him  might  one  day  be  his  wife,  had  certarnly  taken 
possession  of  his  boyish  mind.  How  long  he  had  consciously  retained 
it  could  not  be  known  ;  but  the  traces  of  it  were  still  there,  and  were 
certainly  not  obliterated  by  the  change  which  time  had  wrought  in  his 
cousin. 

Of  her  personal  appearance  I  have  said  nothing.  Were  I  writing  a 
novel,  I  should  be  bound, by  all  precedent,  to  give,  an  exact  account  of  De- 
lia's whole  exterior.  Her  person,  her  countenance,  her  hair,  her  eyes, 
her  complexion,  should  all  be  described,  and  the  whole  summed  up  in 
'  nsnnhlr  of  surpassing  beauty.  But,  in  this  true  history,  I  am 
unfortunately  bound  down  by  facts,  and  I  lament,  that  to  the  best  of 
my  recollection,  T  shall  not  have  occasion  to  speak  of  a  single  female, 
in  the  progress  of  my  narrative,  whose  beauty  can  be  made  a  theme  of 
ju;-t  praise.  I  do  sincerely  lament  this;  for  euch  is  the  constitution  of 
human  nature,  that  female  beauty  influences  the  heart  and  mind  of 
man,  even  by  report       We  read,  in  Oriental  talcs,  of  great  princes 


M  TnK   PABTISAH    LEADER. 

enamored  of  descriptions.     The  grey  eyes  of  Qmen    Kli 

.  le  her  unpopular  with   the  youthful   reader]  ami  the 
|  -t latnl,  three  hundred  year-  alter  the  worms  had 

■  r,  Mill  continues  to  gild  her  history  mid   gloBS  over  her  crimes. 
i  iv  nothing  so  much  in  favour  of  the   beauty  of  Delia  Trevor,  U 

that  she  was  good  and  intelligent,,  reminding  the  reader  of  th< 

.  Mrs.  Dorothy  Primrose,  to  wit:  "  Handsome  is,  that  han  I 

docs."      1    OU   only  add,  that,  when    I  saw  her   afterwards    hanging  on 

the  arm  of  Douglas,  and  looking  up  in   his  face  with   all   the   deep  and 

votion  of  a  woman's  love,  I  saw  enough  of  the  constituents 

1'ity  to  make  her  an  object  of  love,  and  enough  >i   the  BOoJ   of 

truth  and  tenderness  to  make  her  seem  transcendently  beautiful  in  the 

this,  to  account  for  the  fact  that  her  cousin  Douglas  soon  found 
himself  taking  great  pleasure  in  her  society,  and  anxious  to  please  her, 
not  more  from  duty  than  inclination.  He  was,  perhaps,  chic  fly  attract- 
ed by  her  conversation,  which  was  always  cheerful,  sprightly,  and  in- 
telligent. He  may  have  yielded  to  a  spell  of  hardly  teas  magic  than 
that  of  beauty;  the  spell  of  a  voice  melodious,  distinct,  articulate,  and 
richly  flexible,  varying  its  tone-;  unconsciously  with  every  ohang 
grade  of  thought  or  feeling.  It  may  have  been  the  effect  of  what  By- 
ron would  call  "blind  contact,"  and  tho  sage  Mrs.  Broadhuret  "propin- 
quity/' or  it  may  have  been  that  his  hour  was  come.  If  one  in  ten  of 
my  married  friends  can  tell  exactly  how  /(<•  oame  to  fall  in  lovw  with 
his  wife,  I  shall  hold  myself  bound  to  impure  farther  intS>  this  m 

But  I  do  not  mean  to  intimate  that  Lieutenant  Trevor,  turning  his 
backon.thc  belles  of  Boston  and  New  fork,  and  Philadelphia, and 
Baltimore,  and  Washington,  came  home,  and  tumbled  forthwith  into  love 
with  a  plain  country  girl,  just  because  she  was  his  cousin,  and  he  had 
loved  her  when  a  child.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  he  was  in  love  with  her 
at  all.  He  had  a  sincere  affection  for  her;  he  liked  her  conversation  ; 
I  Imired  her  talents  much,  and  her  virtues  more.  He  liked  very 
h  to  be  with  her,  and  was  very  much  with  her. 

•  t  came  of  this,  the  reader  shall  be  told  when  we  have  disp 

•  matters  of  higher  concernment. 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  35 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Nero  fiddled  while  Rome  was  bunnr.g. 

Douglas  Trevor  reached  his  father's  house  just  after  the  Virginia 
Legislature  had  assembled.  The  presidential  election  was  just  over, 
and  the  partisans  of  Van  Burcn,  exulting  in  their  success,  made  their 
leader  the  more  hateful  to  his  opponents  by  the  insolence  of  their  tri- 
umph. Though  he  had  lost  the  vote  of  Virginia,  it  will  be  remember- 
ed that  he  still  commanded  a  majority  in  the  Legislature,  elected  be- 
fore  the  revolution  in  public  sentiment  was  complete.  The  more  recent 
expression  of  public  sentiment  showed  that  the  time  was  come  when 
power  must  be  held  by  means  far  different  from  those  by  which  it  had 
been  acquired.  Opinion,  which  at  first  had  been  in  their  favor,  was 
now  against  them.  Corruption  had  for  a  time  supplied  the  place;  but 
the  fund  of  corruption  was  all  insufficient  to  buy  off  the  important  in- 
terests which  were  now  roused  to  defend  themselves.  To  add  to  its  ef- 
ficiency by  all  practicable  means,  and  to  bring  to  its  aid  the  arm  of 
force,  was  all  that  remained. 

To  organize  measures  for  this  purpose,  and  to  enrich  themselves  from 
the  profuse  disbursement  of  public  money,  which  formed  a  part  of  the 
plan  of  operation*;,  were  the  great  objects  which  engaged  the  minds  of 
the  majority  in  the  Virginia  Legislature.  But  these,  important  as  they 
were,  could  not  entirely  wean  them  from  those  indigencies  which,  for 
many  years,  had  made  Richmond,  during  the  winter  season,  the  scene 
of  so  much  revel  and  debauchery.  To  these,  as  well  as  to  personal  in- 
and  the  great  interests  of  the  faction,  much  time  was  given. 
But  the  necessity  of  attend  i  cially  to  the  latter  was  made  daily 

more  apparent  by  the  startling  intelligence  which  every  mail  brought 
from  the  South  and  Southwest.  The  nearly  simultaneous  'secession  of 
the  States  in  that  quarter,  and  the  measures  to.be  taken  for  the  forma- 
tion of  a  southern  confederacy,  were  things  which  had  been  talked  of 
until  they  were  no  longer  dreaded.  But  causes  had  gradually  wrought 
their  ncctssiry  effect*)  and  the  ultimate  cooperation  of  Virgiuia,  if  left 
to  act  freely,  was  now  sure. 

I  have  already  spoken  of  those  men,  in  each  of  the  Mmthi 
of  cool  heads,  long  views,  and  stout  hearts,  who,  watching  the  progress 


3o*  TDE    PARTIBAB    LE,\I»KR. 

of  i  on  the  point  to  which  t1  I.      It  is  not 

They  arc  already 
I  blazoned  on  the  tomb  of  tliat  hateful  tyranny 
wh  They  had  been  discarded  from  the  e< 

the  popularity  of  the  President  had  blinded  the 
ruuTtitt] :  i  none  of  the  northern  faction, 

inlta  of  rapacity  and  fanaticism,  hounded  on  byambi- 
E   nth, had  restored  them  to  public  favor. 
Tli  saion  must  come,  and  that,  come  when  it  might, 

their  infl  dd  1  e  proportioned  to  their  past  disgraci  -.     Pn  Burn- 

ing "ii  this,  they  had  consulted  much  together.    Not  only  had  they 
■  fhed  provisionally  the  plan  of  a  southern  confederacy,  hut  they  had 
i  measures  to  regulate  their  relations  with  foreign  powers.     One  of 
r  number,  travelling  abroad,  had  been  instructed  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  negotiation  of  a  commercial  treaty  with  great  Britain.     One  of 
the  first  acts  of  the  new  c  ofederacy  was  to  invest  him  publicly  with 
the  diplomatic  character, and  it  wasat  once  understood  that  commercial 
arrangements  would  be  made,  the  value  of  which  would  s<  oure  to  the 
infant  League  all  the  advantages  of  an  alliance  with  that  powerful  ca- 
tion.    The  designation  of  a  gentleman,  as  minister,  who  had  so  long, 
without  any  ostensible  motive,  resided  near  the  Court  of  St  .lames,  left 
no  doubt  that  all  things  had  been  already  arranged.     The  treaty  soon 

r  j iromulgated,  therefore,  surprised  nobody,  except  indeed  that  ft 
of  its  details  were  too  obviously  beneficial  to  both  parties  to  have  | 

1.     Not  only  in  war,  but  in  peace,  do  nations  sc<  m  to  think  it 
important  to  do  good  to  themselves   than  to  do  harm  to  each  other. 
The  s\-tem   of  free   trade   now  established,  which    has   restored    to   the 
lib  the  full  benefit  of  its  natural  advantages,  and  made  it  once  more 
the  most  flourishing^ and  prosperous  country  on   earth;   which   has  mul- 
tiplied the  manufactories  of  Great  Britain,  and   increased  her  revenue 
by  an  increase  of  consumption  and  resources,  even  while  some  bracchet 
,ue  wore  cut  oft*';  and  which,  at  the  same  time,  has  broken  the 
r  of  her  envious  rival  in   the  North,  and  put  an  end   for   ever   to 
that  artificial  |  rosperity  engendered  by  the  oppression  and  plunder  of 
hern  States;  is  such  an  anomaly  in  modem  diplomacy,  that  the 
rulers  at  Richmond,  or  even  at  Washington,  might  well  have  been  Bur- 
st  it.      But  the  bare  nomination  of   the  plenipotentiary  waa 
eSOUgh  to  1.  avs  DO  doubt  that  a  treaty  was  ready  for  promulgation,  and 
that  it-  terai  must  be  such  as  to  Becurc  the  cooperation  of  Great  Bri- 
tain. 

Bat,  while  the  leaders  of  the  ruling  faction  thought  of  these  things, 
aud  anxiously  consulted  for  the  preservation  of  their  power,  there  was 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  37 

still  found  among  the  members  of  the  LegislatureHhe  ordinary  propor- 
tion of  men  who  think  of  nothing  but  the  enjoyment  of  the  present 
moment.  Such  men  are  often  like  sailors  in  a  storm,  who,  becoming 
desperate,  break  into  the  spirit  room,  and  drink  the  more  eagerly  be- 
cause they  drink  for  the  last  time.  When  the  devil's  "time  is  short, 
he  has  great  wrath;"  and  this  point  in  his  character  he  alwa}\s  displays, 
whether  he  exhibits  himself  in  the  form  of  cruelty,  rapacity,  or  de- 
bauchery. 

The  amusements,  therefore,  of  the  legislators  assembled  at  Rich- 
mond suffered  little  interruption,  and  the  dinner  and  the  galas,  the"  ball 
and  the  theatre,  and  the  gaming-table,  with  revel,  dissipation,  and  ex- 
travagance, consumed  the  time  of  the  servants  of  the  country,  and 
swallowed  up  the  wasted  plunder  of  the  treasury. 

Respected  by  all,  beloved  by  individuals  of  both  parties,  and  courted 
by  that  to  which  he  was  supposed  to  belong,  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor  was  an 
object  of  the  most  flattering  attention.  His  house  was  the  favorite 
resort  of  such  as  enjoyed  the  envied  privilege  of  the  entree.  His  gal- 
lant and  accomplished  son  was  the  glass  before  which  aspirant  for  court 
favor  dressed  themselves.  The  budding  youth  of  his  daughter  had, 
for  }-ears,  been  watched  with  impatient  anticipation  of  the  time  when 
her  hand  might  be  seized  as  the  passport  to  present  wealth  and  future 
honor. 

Her  cousin  Delia  was  not  recommended  to  notice  by  all  these  con- 
siderations; but  the  most  prevailing  of  the  whole  was  one  that  made 
her  claims  to  attention  fully  equal  to  those  of  Virginia.  Her  father, 
though  in  comparatively  humble  circumstances,  could  give  with  his 
daughter  a  handsomer  dowry  than  the  elder  and  wealthier  brother 
could  afford  with  his.  He  was  notorious  for  generosity,  and  his  in- 
firmities made  it  probable  that  he  was  not  long  for  this  world.  Delia 
was  therefore  universally  fegarded  as  an  heiress.  Add  to  this,  that -in 
the  affection  of  her  uncle  she  seemed  hardly  to  be  postponed  to  his 
own  daughter,  and  it  was  obvious  to  anticipate  that  the  same  influence 
which  had  procured  office  and  emolument  for  himself  and  his  sons, 
would  be  readily  exerted  in  favor  of  her  future  husband. 

It  followed,  that,  whatever  were  the  amusements  of  the  day,  whether 
ball  or  theatre,  or  party  of  pleasure  by  land  or  by  water,  the  presence 
of  Delia  and  Virginia  was  eagerly  sought.  The  latter,  simple  and  art- 
less, saw  in  all  who  approached  her  the  friends  of  her  father.  If  she 
thought  at  all  of  political  differences,  it  was  only  to  recognize  in  nio*t 
of  them  the  adherents  of  the  man  to  whose  fortunes  he  had  so  long 
attached  himself,  and  in  whose  fortunes  he  had  flourished.  To  all.  h<  r 
welcome  was  alike  cordial  and  her  smile  always  bright 


>  THE    PARTISAN    LEADS. 

Witl.  Delia,  tl     ^  lb  far  different     Much  more  i  I  than 

.-in  with  tli.'  politics  of  the  day,  she   W8J  aware  that  her  father 

i  many  that  the   met      On   BOme   of  those   who   Bought 

her   favor,  she   knew   tliat   he   looked*with    detestation  and  seorn.      To 

m  as  cold  ami  repulsive  as  a  real  lady  can  i  ■■  it  her- 

be  to  one  who  approaches  her  as  i  gentleman  in  genteel  society. 

The  height  of  the  modem  mode  would,  indeed,  have  eounteiiai 

such  easel  that  sort  of  negative  insolence,  the  practice  of  which  i-  re- 

garded  as  the  most  decisive  indication  of  high  breeding.     But  she  had 

I  in  a  different  school.     She  had  been  taught  that,  m  i 
self  n  sp<  d  a  the  Brat  duty  of  woman  ;  and  that  the  only  inviolabl 
guard  f<T  that,  is  a  care  never  to  offend  the  self-respect  of  others. 
Thus,  while  a  part  of  those  jvho  approached  her,  who  made   I 
that  their  attentions  were  not  acceptable,  she  never  afforded  them  oc- 
casion to  complain  of  any  want  of  courtesy  on  her  part     Without 
being  rebuffed,  they  felt  themselves  constrained  to  stand  aloof.     There 
was  nothing  of  which  they  could  complain  ;  no  pretext  for  resentment 
— no  opening  for  sarcasm — no  material  for  scandal. 

But  in  proportion  to  the  impotence  of  malice,  so  i-;  the  malignity  of 
it,-  hoarded  venom.     All  were  aware  of  the  political  opinions  and  con- 
nexions of  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor;  and   it   wai  easy  to  make  remarks  in 
the  presence  of  his  daughter,  not  only  offensive,  hut    painful   to   her 
feelings.    To  this  purpose,  no  allusion  to  him  was  necessary.     It  was 
enough  to  speak  injuriously  of  those  whom  she  knew  to  he  his  friends, 
and  whose  public  characters  made  them  legitimate  subjects  of  applause 
-ure.     13y  this,  and  other  means  of  the  like  character,  she  was 
open  to  annoyance;  and  to  suoh  means  the  dastard  insolence  "t' 
those  whom  her  coldness  had   repelled,  habitually  resorted  for  revenge. 
On  such  occasions  she  frequently  found  that  her  cousin   Douglas  came 
to  her  aid.     Unrestrained  by  the  consideration  that  imposed  silence  on 
her,  he  was  always  ready  to  speak  on  behalf  of  the  party  attacked.      If 
ho  could  not  directly  vindicate,  he  would  palliate  or  excuse.     If  even 
inconsistent  with  his  own  opinions,  be  would  take  occasion  to 
approvingly  of  the  talents  or  private  worth  of  thuse  who  were 
assailed.     Whether  she  regarded  this  as  a  proof  of  good  breeding,  or 
of  kit  herself,  or  of  an  incipient  change  in  his  opinions,  such 

commanded  her  gratitude  and  approbation. 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  39 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

He  was,  in  logic,  a  great  eritic, 

Profoundly  skilled  in  analytic. 

He  could  distinguish  and  divide 

A  hair,  "twixt  south  and  southwest  side. 

Hudibius. 

Among  those  who  had  thus  manifested  a  disposition  to  win  the  favor 
of  Delia  Trevor,  was  a  young  man  who  had,  not  long  since,  entered 
public  life  under  the  auspices  of  a  father,  who,  fifteen  ydars  before,  had 
openly  bartered  his  principles  for  office.  Besides  some  talent,  the  son 
possessed  the  yet  higher  merit,  in  the  eyes  of  his  superiors,  of  devotion 
to  his  party  and  its  leader.  He  never  permitted  himself  to  be  re- 
strained, by  any  regard  to  time  or  place,  from  making  his  zeal  con- 
spicuous. Taught,  from  his  infancy,  that  the  true  way  to  recommend 
his  pretensions  was  to  rate  them  highly  himself,  he  seemed  determined 
never  to  exchange  his  place  in  the  Legislature  for  any  in  the  gift  of 
the  Court,  unless  some  distinguished  station  should  be  offered  to  his 
acceptance.  For  any  such,  in  any  department,  he  was  understood  to 
be  a  candidate. 

At  first,  he  supposed  that  a  private  intimation  to  this  effect,  through 
his  father,  would  be  all  sufficient.  But  he  was  overlooked,  and  post 
after  post,  that  he  would  gladly  have  accepted,  was  conferred  on  others. 
Fearful  that  he  might  be  deemed  deficient  in  zeal,  he  redoubled  his 
diligence,  and  with  increased  eagerness  sought  every  opportunity  to 
display  his  talents  and  his  ardor  in  the  service  of  his  master.  Still"  he 
seemed  no  nearer  to  his  object.  Whether  it  was  thought  that  he  was 
serviceable  in  his  actual  station,  or  that  the  wily  President  deemed 
it  a  needless  waste  of  patronage  to  buy  what  was  his  by  hereditary  title 
and  gratuitous  devotion,  it  is  hard  to  say.  The  gentleman  sometimes 
seemed  on  the  point  of  becoming  malcontent;  but  his  father,  who  had 
trained  him  in  the  school  of  Sir  Pertinax  McSyeophant,  convinced  him 
that  more  was  to  be  got  by  "booing,"  and  resolute  subserviency  and 
flattery  of  the  great,  than  in  any  other  way.  ■  Under  such  impressions, 
he  would  kindle  anew  the  fervor  of  his  zeal  and  send  up  his  incense  in 
clouds.     Again  disappointed,  and  sickening  into  the  moroseness  of  hope 


♦  0  THK    PARTISAN    LKADKR. 

moody  and  n  \a  if  watc":, 

d<  action. 

•  -mil  a  moment,  had -seemed  to  pr 
lintanoe  with  Delia  Trevor,  don  with  1. 

Baited  to  hi*  interested  and  ambi  I  polioy.     A  1«::: 

ami  amiabl  items  in  the  account  <>f  Becondar 

Bat  her  fortune  was  not  to  be  overlooked.    Then,  should  hi 

like  to  meet  their  long  deserved  reward,  she  could  be 

nt  as  the  niece  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor,  the  tried  and 

riend  of  tin   President     Should  the  cold  ingratitude  "!'  his 

superior-  at  length  drive  him  into  the  opposition  for  advancement,  he 

ire  of  being  well  received  as  the  Bon-in-law  of  a  patriot  so  di 

Bernard  Trevor.      Utrinque  paratxu,  could  he  secure  the  hand 

of  Delia,  he   Pelt    -urc  that   he  must  win,   let  the  cards  fall  as 

Saving  taken  this  view  of 'the  subject,  and  examined  it  in  all  its 
bearings,  he  made  ap  to  Delia  with  a  directness  which  stai 
confidence  that  offended  her.    Hut  the  gentleman  had  little  to 
mend  him  to  the  favor  of  the  fair.    Bis]   rson  was  awkward,  and  dis- 
figured by  a  mortal  stoop.    His  Features, at  once  diminutive  and  i 
lar,  were  either  shronded  with  an  expression  of  solemn  importan 
set  off  by  a  smile  of  yet  more  offens  mplacenoy.    His  manners 

r  of  OOnoeit,  alternately  pert  and 
and  hi  though  abortn 

tempts  at  wit.  and  a  sort  of  chopt  kogio,  elaborately  employed  in  prov- 
ing, bj  tible  arguments,  what  nobody  ever  pretended  to  deny. 
.  I  1 .  en  taught,  by  his  learned  and  astute  father,  to  lay  his  foun- 
dations so  deep  that  his  arguments  and  the  patience  of  his  hearers  were 
apt  to  be  exhausted  by  the  time  he  got  back  to  the  surface  of  things. 
Yet  he  reasoned  with  grosil  precision,  and  rarely  failed  to  estahlish,  as 
untjuestionahle,  thenfttmtiej  from  which  other  men  commonly  begin,  to 
>n. 

talent,  and  this  use  of  it,  arc  more  applauded  by  the  world  than 
one  would  think.  Men  like  to  be  confirmed  in  their  opinions ;  and, 
tin  fewer  and  more  simple  these  may  be,  the  more  grateful  are  they  for 
any  thing  that  looks  like  a  demonstration  at  their  truth.  To  a  man 
arithmetic  only  extends  to  the  profound  maxim 
"that  two  and  two  make  four,"  how  gratifying  to  find  a  distinguished 
man  «  ling  to  prove  it  by  elaborate  argument ! 

Bat  ladies  have  little  taste  for  these  things,  and  still  less  for  the 
harsh  dogmatism  and  fierce  denunciations  of  hostile,  but  absent  politi- 
cians, with  which  Mr.   P.  Baker,  the  younger,  occasionally  varied  bis 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  41 

discourse.  To  Delia,  therefore,  the  gentleman,  in  and  of  himself,  and 
apcrt  from  all  extrinsic  considerations,  was  absolutely  disagreeable.  His 
first  advances  drove  her  within  the  safe  defences  of  female  pride  and 
reserve.  But  when  the  manifest  audacity  of  his  pretensions  led  her 
to  think  of  him  as  the  supple  slave  of  power,  as  one  who  had  prostitu- 
ted himself  to  the  service  of  his  master,  with  an  eagerness  which  con- 
demned his  zeal  to  be  its  own  reward,  her  disgust  increased  to  loath- 
ing, and  her  pride  was  kindled  into  resentment.  Without  showing 
more  of  these  feelings  than  became  her.  she  showed  enough  to  make 
her  the  object  of  his  insolent  and  malignant  hatred.  But  she  was  for- 
tified by  her  position  in  a  family  which  he  dared  not  offend,  and  his 
paltry  malice  found  vent  in  such  allusions  to  the  politics  of  the  day  as 
he  knew  must  wound  her. 

Things  were  about  coming  to  this  pass*,  when  Douglas  Trevor  ar- 
rived. The  first  time  he  met  Mr.  Baker  in  company  with  his  cousin, 
he  saw  a  disposition  on  his  part  to  pay  attentions  which  were  obviously 
annoying  to  her.  Both  duty  and  inclination  impelled  him  to  come  to 
her  relief;  and,  in  doing  this,  he  awakened  the  jealousy  and  incurred 
the  displeasure  of  the  gentleman.  But  these  were  feelings  he  had  no 
mind  to  display  toward  one  who  wore  a  sword,  and  especially  toward 
the  son  of  a  man  so  influential  at  Washington  as  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor. 
He  accordingly  drew  off,  in  morose  discomfiture,  and  Delia,  relieved 
from  his  offensive  attentions,  felt  that  she  owed  her  deliverance  to  her 
cousin.  He  was,  of  course,  bound  to  occupy  the  place  at  her  side  from 
which  he  had  driven  Baker;  and  she  was  bound  to  iequite  the  service 
by  making  the  duty  he  had  imposed  on  himself  as  little  irksome  as 
possible.  She  exerted  herself  to  be  agreeable,  and  succeeded  so  well, 
that  Douglas  went  to  bed  that  night  in  the  firm  belief  that  he  had 
never  passed  a  more  pleasant  evening,  or  seen  a  girl  of  more  charming 
manners  than  Delia. 

This  circumstance  led  to  a  sort  of  tacit  convention,  which  established 
him  in  the  character  of  her  special  attendant,  in  all  parties  where  Mr- 
Baker  made  his  appearance.  By  an  easy  progress,  this  engagement 
was  extended  to  all  societies  and  all  places.  He  knows  little  of  human 
nature  who  needs  to  be  told  the  natural  consequences  of  these 
things. 

But,  leaving  the  reader  to  form  his  own  judgment,  and  to  anticipate 
.  such  result  as  he  may,  my  present  business  is  with  the  repulsed  and 
irritated  Baker.  Though  it  consoled  his  pride  and  self-love  to  impute 
his  discomflturos,  not  to  any  absolute  dislike  of  himself,  but  to  a  prefer- 
ence for  another,  there  was  nothing  in  that  preference  to  soothe  1 
sentracnt.     As  Douglas  had,  in  the  first  instance,  come  somewhat  cava- 


TBI    PART18AM    I 

wishes,  he,  perhaps,  had  rea- 

.  Bpleasure  against  him.    l>ut,  as  it  might  be  quite 

give  vent  to  hi;*  feelings  in  that  direction,  they  we*a 

careful  '"  -—  i  s  <  - 1  >  assaults  on  those  of  the  lady, 

►in  might  m.t  observe,  or  might  think  it  unwise  t<>  uotioe,  did  his  malice 

jndti 

.  1 1  -  - 11   the   astounding  intelligence  reached  Rich- 
that  a  diplomatic  agent  from  the  State  of  South  Carolina  had 
been  long  secretly  entertained  at  the  Court  <>l'  Bt  Janus,  and  that  he 
tpposed  to  have  negotiated  an   informal  arrangement  for  acorn- 
ty  between  that  government  and  the  confederacy  then  form- 
ing in  the  Smith.     Something  was  rumored  as  to  the  terms  of  the  con- 
teniplated  treaty,  which  filled   the  -whole  northern  faction  in  Virginia 
iiiation.      Itwas    feared    that    that    State  could  nut  he  w  ith- 

■iii  joining  the  Southern  League,  except  hy  force,  and  that,  in 
■  force,  she  would  be   backed,  not  only  by  the  Southern 
:  by  the  power  of  Great  Britain 


THE    FARTISAN    LEADER.  43 


CHAPTER    IX. 

"  If  I  had  known  lie  had  been  so  cunning  of  fence,  I'd  have  seen  him 
damned  ere  I  had  fought  with  liim." — Old  Play. 

It  was  now  the  month  of  February,  and  a  pleasant  day  had  tempted 
our  young  people  to  a  jaunt  of  amusement  to  the  head  of  the  falls. 
Mr.  Baker,  stealing  away  from  his  duties  as  a  legislator,  was  one  of  the 
party.  Repulsed  by  Delia,  he  was  beginning  an  attempt  on  the  heart 
of  Virginia,,  of  whose  loyalty, as  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor,  he 
could  entertajn  no  doubt. 

Here  his  reception  would  have  been  little  better  than  with  the  other, 
had  not  Virginia  been  held  in  check-  by  a  respect  for  the  supposed 
opinions  of  her  father.  Born  at  the  very  moment  when  the  good  old 
gentleman  was  in  the  act  of  making  up  his  mind  to  sacrifice  the  sover- 
eignty of  his  native  State  to  the  necessity  of  preserving  the  Union,  he 
seemed  to  seize  on  the  opportunity  of  compensating  the  impiety  to 
which  he  felt  himself  driven,  by  giving  to  his  infant  daughter  the 
name  he  had  so  long  cherished  and  honored.  It  was  a  moment  of  one 
of  those  relcntings  of  the  heart,  in  which  nature  asserts  her  suprema- 
cy, and  compels  its  homage  to  those  whom  we  have  been  accustomed  to 
reverence  and  obey.  If  even  the  prodigal  or  the  traitor  be  subject  to 
be  so  affected,  how  much  stronger  must  be  such  an  impulse  in  the  mind 
of  a  pure  and  upright  man,  impelled  by  ?l  sense  of  duty  to  his  coun- 
try to  dishonor  her  venerated  name.  This  poor  tribute  was  as  the  kiss 
of  peace  with  which  the  executioner  implores  the  pardon  of  some  illus- 
trious victim  of  State  policy,  who  is  about  to  bleed  under  his  hand. 
Had  he  yielded  to  his  feelings,  he  would  have  taken  up  the  self-accu- 
sing lamentation  of  the  returning  prodigal.  But  his  sense  of  duty  was 
deep  and  abiding,  and  was  always  most  sure  to  command  his  exact  obe- 
dience when  the  duty  was  most  painful.  He  could  not  doubt  the  cor- 
rectness of  a  conviction,  which  even  his  cherished  devotion  tohis  na- 
Mtc  could  not  made  him  shake  off  entirely.  In  such  a  case,  to 
doubt  was,  with  him,  to  be  convinced. 

But  the  name  thus  bestowed  upon  his  daughter  wae  not  without  an 
effect  on  her  mind.  She  knew  little  of  politics,  but,  from  her  very 
infancy,  self-love  had  made  her  jealous  of  the  honor  of  the  State  whose 
name  she  bore.     The  name  itself  waa  a  spell  of  power  on  the  heart  of 


H  Tnn  tai.ti.-an   LEAD] 

1  her  to  lore  her  (   osin  before  she  knew  her. 
[heir  lir>t  acquaintance,  end  ha  I 

r,  ami 
r  in  intellectual  power,  I,  on  wittingly, 

r  the  mind  <>t*  Virginia  which  inefined  her  to  lis- 

mld  be  ai  -'  the  oaorper'a  claim  loa 

1  by  the  authority  0/  the  Stat.'. 

more  than  a  year  past,  Mr.  Tr<  ror  had  himself  begun  to  doubt 

rmer  opinions.    Doubting,  he  was  silent,  but  be 

M  unwilling  to  subject  bis  daughter  60  the  action  <>f  her 

jorous  mind.     For  many  years,  be  would  as  scon  bate 

children  t"  the  contagion  <>i  the  plague,  as  permit  them  t<» 

vi>it  th<  '.r  uii.'.,'.     During  the  last  summer  he  bad  suffered  Arthur  and 

Virgii  i  a  month  with  him  ;  ami  l.e  was  not  Bony  to  observe 

thai  tin  former  came  home  with  deeper  thoughts  than  lie  cbose  to  ex- 

Of  their  love  and  admiration  of  their  uncle  neither  made  any 

He  was  not  only  unlike  their  father,  but  so  unlike  an . 

man,  that  be  bad  been  a  curious  Btudy  to  them  during  their  whole  visit 

dity  of  his  thoughts,  and  the  vividness  with  whioh  he  ex- 

I  them,  afforded  thi  ;  amusement    lie  bad  that  faculty 

of  making  truth  look  like  truth,  in  the  exhil  iti  n  of  which  the  young 

mind  so  much  delights.     Then  he  was  bo  frank,  so  ard<  at,  and  withal 

so  kind,  that  it  was  im]  ossible  1  1  know  and  not  to  love  him. 

After  all  this,  the  reader  will  nut  be  like  to  partake  of  the  surprise 

of  .Mr.  Philip  Baker,  when  be  found,    OH    shifting  bis   battery,  that  be 

:  much  more  in  favor  with  Virginia  Trevor  than  with  her  cou- 

sin.     The  consequence  was,  that  whenever  he  attempted,  in  company, 

icb  himself  to  the  immediate  party  <>f  these  young  ladies,  he  was 

apt  tu  find  himself  a  supernumerary.     But,  as  \  irginia  bad  Bhown  no 

marked  dislike  to  bim,  his  vaniiy  easily  adopted  the  idea  that  she  con- 
'.  bim  a--  the  property  of  Delia,     lb'  took   Borne  pains  to  umle- 
her,  and  would  have  been  mortified   at   her   unconcern  on  the  oc- 
easion,  bad  be  not  thought  some  allowance  should  be  made  for  her  in- 
difference to  a  man  who  did  but    take    her  as  a  pit  <i!br.     lie  did  not, 
ire,  at  once  withdraw  himself  from  their  coterie,  but  continued 
,'  about,  and  take  bis  part  in  conversation,  whenever  nothing  par- 
ticularly exclusive  in  the  manner  of  the  interlocutors  forbade  it.     He 
could  i/"t  come  between  whispers;  but  he  could  answer  any  observation 
that  1;  as  T  have  said,  something  between  a  proser 

and  a  deelaimer,  be  thought  himself  eloquent,  and  would  seize  ooca- 
sions  to  held  forth  to  the  general  edification,  in  a  style  intended  to  daz- 
zle the  by8tand.eVs. 

• 


•  THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  45 

On  the  day  of  which  wc  speak,  he  had  heen  in  close  attendance  on 
Virginia,  until,  rather  hy  address  than  by  direct  repulse,  she  had  con- 
trived to  shake  him  off.  It  so  happened,  that  (he  rest  of  the  company 
were  all  paired  off,  leaving  him  in  the  enviable  condition  of  a  half 
pair  of  shears,  when  relief  appeared  in  the  person  of  a  gentleman  just 
from  Richmond. 

This  gentleman,  originally  one  of  the  devisers  of  the  pic  nic,  had 
staid  behind  for  the  mail,  and  now  arrived  with  the  news  alluded  to  iu 
the  last  chapter.  Baker,  being  disengaged  at  the  moment,  was"  the 
first  to  receive  the  intelligence,  and  he  lost  no  time  in  awakening  the 
attention  of  the  company  by  volleys  of  oaths  and  imprecations.  While 
he  continued  to  exercise  himself  in  calling  down  the  vengeance  of 
"  the  Eternal,"  according  to  the  most  approved  formula  of  the  old 
court,  on  those  whom  he  denounced  as  traitors,  the  rest  listened  in 
amazement,  disgust,  or  alarm,  to  this  boisterous  effusion  of  his  rage. 
At  length,  as  he  stopped  to  take  breath,  Douglas  availed  himself  of 
the  pause  to  ask  what  was  the  matter.  The  whole  story  now  came  out, 
and  Mr.  Baker,  having  put  his  audience  in  possession  of  the  text,  went 
on  with  his  discourse.  Unmindful  of  the  presence  of  the  ladies,  he 
vented  his  wrath  in  language  with  which  I  do  not  choose  to  stain  my 
paper.  Every  man  who  had  held  a  conspicuous  place  among  the  advo- 
cates of  State  rights  for  the  last  twenty  years,  was  condemned,  ex  cathe- 
dra. The  dead  were  especially  recommended  to  the  tender  mercies  of 
the  devil,  in  whose  clutches  he  supposed  them  to  be;  while  the  living 
were  indiscriminately  devoted  to  the  same  doom. 

list  the  person  by  whom  the  treaty  was  said  to  have  been  nego- 
tiated, his  wrath  burned  most  fiercely.     In  the  midst  of  one  of  his 

vage  denunciations  of  that  gentleman,  he  happened  to  recollect 
having  heard  Delia  speak  of  him  as  the  intimate  friend  of  her  father. 
The  thought  turned  his  eye  upon  her.  She  was  already  pale  and 
trembling  with  emotion,  when  she  caught  his  insulting  glance.  In  an 
instant  the  blood  gushed  to  her  face,  and  tears  to  her  eyes.  lie  saw 
it,  and  went  on  to  comprehend  in  his  denunciations  all  the  aiders,  abet- 
tors, and  frii  ncU  of  the  traitor,  whom  in  one  breath  he  devoted  to  the 
gallows. 

This  was  more  than   Delia  could  bear,  and  more^than  Douglas  was 

d  to  suffr.  He  had  caught  the  glance  which  Baker  bad  cast 
at  hia  cousin;  he  s-iw  the  effect  on  her  feelings;  he  witnessed  her  in- 
creasing emotion,  and  felt  it  iTis  duty  to  come  to  her  relief.  He  ap- 
proached Baker,  and  passing  him,  as  if  with  no  particular  design, 
touched  him  gently,  and  fcaid  in  a  low  voice — "  Such  language  is  im- 
proper in  this  company." 


THE    PARTISAN    LXADIR. 

••  Bow  f  '      '  B  1      "  T  lio|.o  there  is  no  man  here 

the  part  of  a  trait 

I,  and,  biting  his  lip,  said  in  a  tone  not  loud,  hut  from 
tod  marked  emphasis,  audible  to  all  pre*  n(  i  ••  ! 
k  as  t<i  lo  heard  by  none  bnt  yon,  and  invited  yon  by  a  rigs, 
apart  where  I  might  explain  my  meaning  in  private.     But,  as  you  will 
e  explanation  here,   1   say.  that  you  knoiB  then  is  no  man  here 
1  to  take  the  j  art  of  a  traitor.      11'  you    had    thought  there  ',\as, 
.r.  I  '  ;   'iir  denunciations  would  have  been  le.-s  violent." 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Baker,  reddening. 
"  My  meaning  is  as  plain  as  becomes  thh»  presence,"  said  I* 
o. -1<11  v.  and  again  walking  away.     Baker  looked  around,  and  read  in 
that   he  was  expected    to    follow.     He  did  so,  and  joining 
they  both  walked  on  together. 
■  I  Bhall  be  glad  to  receive  a  farther  explanation,  sir,"  said  he  in  au 
agitated  tone.  . 

••  Speak  lower,  then,"  replied  Douglas,  calmly,  slipping  his  arm 
within  that  of  Baker ;"  and  u  no  -'Mure.  My  meaning  is  this — 
That  he  who  is  regardless  rf  the  presence  and  feelings  of  a  lady,  is  not 
apt  to  overlook  those  of  a  man.  To  make  my  meaning  yet  plainer, 
-ir.  your  language  would  have  been  more  unaided,  bud  my  uncle  been 
■  nted  here,  not  by  a  ilavghter,  but  by  a  ton." 
The  quiet  tone  of  Douglas's  voice,  the  equivocal  meaning  of  the  first 

he  bad  Uttered,  and  the  pacific  action    intended    to  deceive  those 
who  |i  hod    calmed   for   a    moment  the  alarm  of  Baker.      He 

bad  recovered  himself  before  he  was  made  to  perceive  what  was  really 

m>  ajit  ;   and  ere  be  had  time  to  reflect  on    his   situation,  the  dangerous 

temptation  of  ;i  ri  partes  assailed  him.    Glancing  back  at  the  company, 
id — '•  If  I  may  judge  by  appearanoes,  sir,  you  have  the  right  as 
well  as  the  inclination  to  assume  that  character." 

Doughu  had  turned  his  head,  instinctively,  as  Baker  looked  hack, 
and  saw  that  they  had  rounded  a  point  of  rock,  and  were  out  of  sight. 
In  an  instant,  he  disengaged  hi*  arm  with  a  push  that  nearly  threw 
..ii  the  bank,  and  stepping  back,  glared  upon  him  with 
an  eye  that  instantly  brought  the  other  to  his  senses.  While  he  stood 
blenching  and  cowering  under  this  fierce  glance,  Douglas  rceo\  ered 
'f  command,  and  said,  with  stern  calmness — "You  had  nearly 
made  me  forget  myself,  sir.  But  we  understand  each  other  Siow. 
Take  a  turn  along  the  shore  to  compose  yourself.  I  will  wait  here  for 
you,  and  we  will  return  to  the  company  together" 

I  himself  on  a  rock,  and  the  other  obeyed  mechanically. 
How  he  succeeded  in  recovering  his  composure  is  another  affair.     He 


the;  partisan  leader.  47 

walked  on,  and  on,  and  fain  would  he  have  followed  the  course  of  the 
river  to  the  mountain  cave  from  which  it  issues,  there  to  hide  himself 
from  the  consequences  of  hia  own  folly  and  impertinence.  What 
would  he  not  have  given  to  recall  that  last  speech  ?  Until  then,  he 
was  the  party  aggrieved.  Douglas's  offence  against  him  had  not  been 
so  gross  as  to  admit  of  no  explanation ;  and,  to  all  appearance,  an  ami- 
cable one  had  been  given.  The  truth  might  not  have  come  out  until 
he  had  had  time  to  escape  to  his  constituents;  and  before  the  next  ses- 
sion the  affair  might  have  been  forgotten.  But  now,  Douglas  had  been 
insulted,  and  how  he  felt,  and  how  he  would  resent  the  insult,  was  aw- 
fully certain. 

Baker  continued  his  walk  so  far,  that  the  girls  became  uneasy  at  die 
absence  of  the  two  young  men.  They  begged  some  of  the  gentlemen 
to  go  in  quest  of  them,  but  the  request  was  evaded.  At  last,  they  rose 
from  their  scats  on  the  roeks,  and  declared  <hcy  would  themselves  go. 
They  accordingly  set  out,  followed  by  the  rest,  and  in  a  few  yards  came 
to  where  Douglas  was  quietly  seated  on  a  flat  stone,  and  playing  checka 
with  pebbles  on  the  smooth  sand. 

"Where  is  Mr.  Baker?"  exclaimed  Virginia,  eagerly. 

"  Yonder  he  goes,"  replied  Douglas,  calmly.  "  He  has  a  mind  for 
a  longer  walk  than  I  like;  and  I  am  just  waiting  for  him  here.  But 
I  must  not  detain  you,  girls.  His  taste  for  the  picturesque  will  proba- 
bly be  satisfied  by  the  time  we  get  to  our  horses,  and  he  will  soon  over- 
take us." 

He  said  this  with  an  air  so  careless  as  to  deceive  every  person  pres- 
ent but  Delia.  But  the  heart  will  speak  from  the  eye,  and  a  glance  at 
her,  as  she  searched  his  countenance,  unconsciously  said  :  "  I  have  re- 
dressed you."  Coloring  deeply,  she  strove  to  hide  her  emotion — taking 
his  arm  and  busying  herself  at  the  same  time  with  the  adjustment  of 
her  veil.  In  spite  of  some  undefined  apprehensions,  she  was  grateful, 
relieved,  and  pleased  ;  and  a  slight  pressure  on  the  arm  she  held,  spoke 
her  feelings  perhaps  as  distinctly  as  they  were  understood  by  herself. 

Douglas  returned  the  pressure  with  more  energy.  The  words  of 
Baker  yet  tingled  in  his  ears  ;  and  while  they  burned  with  the  insult, 
the  pain  was  more  than  soothed  by  the  thoughts  they  had  awakened 
Were  then  the  day-dreams  of  his  boyhood  to  become  realities  ?  He 
was  not,  as  yet,  conscious  of  any  but  a  cousin's  love  for  Delia.  He 
couIcl  impute  no  other  feeling  to  her.  But  should  this  mutual  affection 
ripen  into  a  more  tender  sentiment !  "With  whom  could  a  man  pass  his 
days  more  happily,  than  with  a  woman  so  intelligent,  so  amiable,  so 
prudent,  so  much  a  lady?  He  did  not  love  her.  But  he  felt  that  to 
love  her,  and  be  beloved  by  her,  would  be  a  happy  lot.     The  slight 


Ifj  Till      i'W.Il.-AN     I.i'.l'EH. 

i  his  arm  was  sweet  to  liim.     II-    wished   th< 
k,ir,  |  But  she  walked  •    ised,  and  with  a  light  and 

over  the  ragged  ground.   Was  nut  that  step  more  confident, 
•    |  that  he  was  there  to  aid  her  in  case  of  need  F     Kwn 
sufficient  G  r  h<  reelf  in  tl  w  a  of  her  own  mind, 

led  and  acoepted,  snd  gratefully,  though  lilentl; 
I  hi         tection.     He  was  happy  in  having  had  occasion  to 
I  her.     Wae  a  The  heart  will  a*k 

n-     Time  gives  the  an 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  49 


CHAPTER    X 


Oh  !  speak  it  not ! 


Lot  silence  be  the  tribute  of  your  homage! 
The  mute  respect,  that  gives  not  woman's  name 
To  the  rude  breath,  which,  trumpeting  her  praises, 
Taints  by  applauding.  ANONYMOUS. 

A  few  days  after,  Douglas  handed  his  cousin  the  following  paper : 

u  Mr.  Baker  begs  leave  to  throw  himself  on  the  mercy  of  Miss 
Delia  Trevor.  He  confesses  his  offence  against  her  on  Saturday  last 
He  admits,  with  shame,  that  he  did  intend  to  wound  her  feelings,  and 
that  he  has  nothing  to  offer  in  extenuation  of  his  offence.  He  does 
not  even  presume  to  ask  a  pardon,  which  he  acknowledges  to  be  un. 
merited,  and  respectfully  tenders  the  only  atonement  in  his  power,  by 
assuring  Miss  Trevor  that  he  will  never  again,  intentionally,  offend  her 
by  his  presence. 

Signed,  Philip  Barker." 

Delia  read  this  curious  document  in  silence,  and,  on  looking  up, 
found  that  Douglas  had  left  the  room.  She  ran  after  him,  but  he  was 
gone,  and  for  a  day  or  two  avoided  any  opportunity  for  farther  explana- 
tion. At  length  she  found  one,  and  asked  by  what  means  the  paper 
had  been  procured. 

"  By  proper  means,  my  dear  cos,"  said  he,  "  if  the  paper  is  a  proper 
one." 

'•Proper!"  exclaimed  she,  " for  me  to  receive,  certainly.  But  for 
him  to  give  !  Indeed,  I  pity  any  poor  wretch  who  can  be  ?o  abject.  I 
am  glad,  at  least,  I  am  to  see  him  no  more.  I  should  find  it  hard  to 
behave  to  him  as  becomes  myself!" 

u  It  would  he  hard,"  said  Douglas,  "  but  as  you  always  will  behave 
as  becomes  yourself,  hard  though  it  be,  it  was  right  you  should  be 
spared  the  trial." 

"  This  u  your  doing  then?"  said  she. 

"  No  questions,  coz,"  replied  Douglas.  "  I  must  behave  as  becomes 
me  too." 

This  put  an  effectual  stop  to  farther  inquiry,  and  the  slight  conceal- 
ment did  but  deepen  Delia's  sense  of  the  service  Douglas  had  rendered 
4 


FtQ  THE    PARTISAN    LKADBR. 

i    the  cfelicacy  which,   at  once,    veiled    and 
D  |  l,i»  chivalrous  character  j  he,  on   his  part  foH  glTHtftT  ploMWItl 

at  bating  redressed  her  wrong,  hecause  the  affair  had  taken  Mich  a  turn 
:il  the  part  that  he  had  acted.  The  tics  thus  formed  in 
are  douhly  sacred  and  doubly  sweet.  The  heart  involuntarily 
aUmwn  them  with  those  chaste  mysteries  which  the  vulgar  eye  must  Dot 
profane.  They  become  the  theme  of  thoughts  whioh  sometimes  rise 
up.  and  kindle  the  cheek,  and  light  the  eye,  and  then  sink  down  again 
and  hi'le  themselves  deep  in  the  silent  breast. 

But  this  privacy  was  destined  to  be  invaded  by  one  person,  at  least; 
ard  that,  the  very  one  from  whom  Douglas  would  most  anxiously  have 
concealed  the  whole  affair.  .  Yet  was  there  no  person  to  whose  tender- 
ness, delicacy,  and  affection  for  both  parties,  it  could  have  been  more 
nth  confided.  In  short,  Mr.  Trevor,  one  day,  placed  in  the  hands  of 
':  d  a  letter,  in  the  President's  own  hand-writing,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  copy  : 

Washington.  Karoo  3d,  1849 

Mt  DSAB  sir:  I  hasten  to  lay  before  you  a  piece  of  information 
which  touches  you  nearly.  Though  I  receive  it  at  tin;  hands  of  one 
wlm  has  the  highest  claims  to  my  confidence,  I  yet  tru-t  it  will  prove  to 
have  originated  in  mistake. 

It  \?  said  that  your  son,  Lieutenant  Trevor,  on  receiving  the  news  of 
the  late  treasonable  proceedings  of  some  of  the  southern  States,  openly 
•indicated  them;  and  that  he  spoke  freely  in  defence  of  the  principal 
sgi-nt  in  their  most  wicked  attempt  to  league  themselves  with  the  ene- 
4  their  country.  It  is  said,  moreover,  that,  in  doing  this,  he  in- 
sulted and  fastened  a  quarrel  on  one,  whom  I  have  great  reason  to 
asjsaai  for  his  uniform  devotion  to  the  Union.  The  regular  course  for 
8u eh  a  charge  against  an  officer,  holding  a  commission  in  the  army  of 
tbv  United  States,  i*  one  which  I  would  not  willingly  pursue,  in  the 
case  of  Ihc  son  of  one  of  my  earliest  and  most  cherished  friends.  As 
Lieutenant  Trevor  is  now  at  home,  on  furlough,  I  address  this  letter  to 
yon.  to  be  laid  before  him.  I  have  no  doubt  he  will  readily  give  the 
necessary  explanations,  and,  in  so  doing,  afford  me  a  new  occasion  for 
displaying  that  regard  for  you  and  yours,  with  which  1  am. 
Dear  sir,  your  friend, 

Martin  Van  Duren. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  what  this  means?"  said  the  mild  old  gentleman  to 
bis  son. 

u  As  I  remember,"  replied  Douglas,  "  the  circumstances  under  which 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  51 

I  heard  of  the  events  alluded  to,  I  think,  I  can  give  a  guess  at  the 
meaning.  It  means  that  my  cousin  was  insulted,  in  my  presence,  and 
that  I  protected  her,  as  was  my  duty." 

"  And  how  docs  it  happen  that  I  never  heard  of  it  ?  Who  was  the 
person,  and  what  has  become  of  the  affair?" 

"It  has  all  blown  over,"  said  Douglas,  "and  I  had  hardly  expected 
it  would  ever  be  spoken  of  again.  Delia  alone  knew  of  it  from  me,  aa 
it  was  right  she  should.  I  have  never  mentioned,  nor  has  my  friend. 
I  am  sure  she  has  not ;  and  what  the  other  party  can  promise  himself 
from  the  exposure,  I  am  sure  I  cannot  tell." 

"The  thing  is  now  made  public,  at  all  events;  and  both  as  your 
father  and  as  the  friend  of  the  President,  it  is  right  that  I  should  know 
all  about  it." 

"  Certanfly,  sir,"  replied  Douglas,  "you  shall  know  all ;  and  when 
you  do,  I  need  not  explain  why  I  have  never  told  you  before." 

He  left  the  room,  and  soon  returned  with  a  bundle  of  papers.  From 
this  he  handed  one  to  his  father,  which  proved  to  be  a  challenge,  in 
the  most  approved  form,  from  him,  the  said  Douglas  Trevor,  to  Philip 
Baker,  Esq.  Then  came  a  proposition  to  discuss  from  the  other  party  : 
then  a  flat  demand  of  apology,  or  the  alternative  of,  what  is  called, 
gentlemanly  satisfaction;  then  an  offer  to  apologize;  then  the  paper  we 
have  already  seen  ;  and  then  tho  following  : 

"  Philip  Baker  declares,  on  his  honor,  that  he  meant  no  offence  to 
Lieutenant  Trevor  by  any  words  addressed  to  him  on  Saturday  last ; 
and  that  he  deeply  regrets  having  spoken  any  which  may  have  sounded 
offensively  in  the  ears  of  Lieutenant  Trevor." 

"This  will  do,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "It  only  shows  that  you  have 
acted  as  became  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman.  These  papers  show  clearly 
that  the  quarrel  began  in  an  insult  to  your  cousin,  which  you  were 
bound  to  resent.     This  will  be  perfectly  satisfactory  to  the  President." 

"  Doubtless  it  would  be,"  said  Douglas,  promptly ;  "  but  so  much  oi 
the  affair  as  implicates  my  cousin's  name  must  go  no  father." 

"  But  it  is  that,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "  which  shows  the  cause  of  the 
quarrel.  The  other  papers  only  show  that  you  fancied  an  intention  to 
insult  where  none  existed.  This  would  tally  too  well  with  what  the 
President  has  heard." 

"  Be  is  so,"  miswered  Douglas,  calmly.  "  If  the  President  is  never 
satisfied  till  I  furnish  a  paper  which  is  to  blend  my  cousin's  name  with 
a  public  discussion,  he  must  remain  dissatisfied.  I  cannot  help  it. 
Better  to  have  suffered  the  insult  to  pass  unnoticed,  than  to  make  a 
lady's  name  the  theme  of  guard-house  wit." 

"  Bless  you,  my  noble  boy,"  said  the  admiring  father.     "  You  arc 


52  THE    PALTISAN    LEADER. 

L  and  there  is  no  help  for  it.     But  what  shall  I  say  to   the   Froi- 

••  "\\" li.it  too  please.     The  comcfuiiotd  you  draw  from  what  you  know, 
DM  to.     The /acts  arc  with  you." 

.id  Mr.  Trevor,  after  a  musinu  pause;  "certainly  ho 
will  trust  in  my  general  a>surancc  that  We  information  is,  to  my  <:<  ,- 
tain  laumUdgtf  erroneous.     This  will  do.     It  must  be  sufficient." 

"  It  must  do,"  said  Douglas,  "whether  it  will  or  no.  In  the  mean 
time,  niv  deer  sir,  let  me  beg  that  the  affair  may  go  no  farther,  even  in 
the  family.  Delia  alone  knows  of  it,  and  she  only  knows  as  much  as 
may  he  gathered  from  that  paper,  a  duplicate  of  which  is  hcr's  by 
light     1  therefore  beg  that  you  will  say  nothing  about  it,  even  to  her." 

And  he  did  say  nothing  to  her;  but  Douglas  observed,  that  that 
Bight)  when  she  held  up  her  lip  for  his  paternal  kiss,  the  kind  old  gen- 
tleman gave  it  with  more  than  his  usual  tenderness.  He  held  her  off, 
parted  the  hair  from  her  forehead,  gazed  earnestly  and  affectionately 
u]  on  her  ;  and  then,  kissing  her  again,  bad  God  bless  her,  in  a  voice 
choked  with  emotion.  From  that  moment,  she  was  to  him  as  a  daugh- 
ter. * 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

That  proud  humility — that  dignified  obedience. — Burke. 

The  visit  of  Delia  to  her  uncle  now  drew  to  a  close,  and  she  prepar- 
ed for  her  return  home.  It  was  settled  that  she  should  be  accompanied 
by  Douglas,  Arthur,  and  Virginia,  who  were  to  spend  a  few  weeks  with 
her  father. 

On  the  road,  Douglas  felt  more  and  more  the  duty  and  the  privilege 
of  being  the  protector  of  his  cousin,  and,  by  the  time  they  reached  the 
end  of  their  journey,  he  had  discovered  that  the  latter  was  as  precious 
as  the  former  was  sacred.  Some  such  thought  had  stolen  into  his  mind 
while  he  was  yet  at  home,  but  that  was  not  the  place  to  mention  the 
subjecMo  her;  and  he  had  determined  to  impose  upon  himself  the 
most  scrupulous  restraint,  until  he  should  have  restored  her  honorably 
to  her  father's  arms. 

Two  days  travel  brought  them  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Bernard  Tre- 
vor, on  the  banks  of  the  Roanoke.  They  found  him  laid  up  with  a  fit 
of  the  gout,  which,  while  it  confined  him  to  the  house,  produced  its 
usual  salutary  effect  on  his  general  health.  At  the  sight  of  his  daugh- 
ter and  her  companions,  his  pain  was,  for  the  moment,  forgotten;  and, 
flinging  away  his  flannels  and  crutches,  he  sprung  to  his  feet  and  caught 
her  in  his  arms.  At  the  same  time,  Arthur  and  Virginia  pressed  for- 
ward for  their  welcome,  which  they,  in  their  turn,  received. 

Unfortunately,  Mr.  Trevor  was  not  the  only  one  who  forgot  himself 
at  the  sight  of  Delia.  Poor  old  Carlo,  starting  from  his  slumbers  on 
the  hearth-rug,  had  recognized  his  young  mistress,  and  was  manifesting 
his  joy  at  Jicr  return  with  boisterous  fondness,  when  one  of  his  feet  .sa- 
luted the  inflamed  toe  of  his  master.  In  an  agony,  which  none  but 
they  who  have  felt  it  can  conceive,  the  old  gentleman  sunk  into  his 
chair.  Here  he  remained  for  some  minutes,  unconscious  of  everything 
but  his  sufferings,  while  the  soft  hand  of  his  daughter  replaced  and 
Boothed  the  tortured  limb. 

At  length,  recovering  enough  to  look  around  him,  his  eye  fell  on 
Douglas,  who  stood  aloof,  waiting  to  be  introduced.  Some  little  tag  of 
military  foppery,  which  always" clings  to  the  undress  of  an  officer,  satis- 
fied Mr.  Trevor  who  he  was.  Stretching  out  his  hand,  he  f-aid  :  "Ah- 
Dou  .las,  my  dear  boy!     How  glad  I  am  to  see  you!      But  I  ought  not 


A 

w 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


to  1  '  izcd  you.  tnding  back   there  with   your  hat 

under  your  :inn,  as   if  waiting  your  turn   of  presentation  at  a  levoc. 

Perhaps  you  don't  remember  me.     I  certainly  should  not  have  known 

but  for  the  circumstances  under  which   I  see  you.     But  what  of 

that?     Wan  U  nut  yesterday  you  were  sitting  On  my  knee,  and  hanging 

at  my  neck?  Fes,  it  was  yesterday;  though  wc  have  both  dreamed  ■ 

it  deal  since.     But  dream!  mut  give  way  to  realities ;  so  let  us  \ 

•  rday,  and  meet  to-day  as  wc  parted  last  night." 

This  singular  accoatt  had  the  desired  effect,  and  Donglaa  felt,  at  once, 
IS  if  he  had  been  with  his  uncle  all  his  life. 

''You  forget,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he,  "that  T  was  intercepted  by  one 
whose  privilege,  I  am  sure,  yen  would  not  have  nic  dispute,  though  he 
bai  abused  it  so  cruelly'' 

■  V'  nmean  the  dog?'1  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "Poor  old  Carlo!  Come 
to  your  master,  my  poor  fellow!  No;  your  privilege  shall  never  be  in- 
vaded. We  arc  both  past  service  now,  and  must  learn  to  sympathise 
with  each  other.  If  you  cannot  understand  the  nature  id'  a  gouty  toe, 
T  hope  I  shall  always  have  heart  enough  to  understand  yours,  (jive  me 
a,  rough  l  Oat, OT  a  black  skin,  for  a  true  friend;  one  that  will  Dot  gro 
any  superior   advantages   that    I    may  pOSSCSS.      Tom,''  added    he,  in   a 

of  marked  gentlen.es,  'be  Ore  u  low.     No,  not  yourself, old  man,'1 

In  continued,  as  the  negro  whom  be  addressed  moved  toward  the  door; 

:  yon,  my  good  <>ld  friend.    Just  ring  the  lull,  and  let  one  oi'  those 

lazy  dogs  in  the  kitchen  bring  in  some  wood.      Hut  why  don't  you  speak 

to  jonr  master  Douglas?    1  am  rare  yon  remember  what  cronies  you 
when  you  were  teaching  him  to  ride." 

'•  I'm  mighty  proud  to  BOS  yon,  BUT,"  said  the  old  man,  taking  the  of- 
fered hand  of  Douglas,  with  an  air  of  affectionate  humility.  "But  it 
was  not   my  place,  sir."  added    he,  answering   his  master's  words,  "to 

k  first.    I  made  sure  master  Douglas  would  remember  me  after  % 

while."* 


i  \ ■■•  the  forbearance  of  all  eritioa,  who  have  taken  their  ideas  of*  Vjr- 

1      -ar  Thompson,  "r  any  -mh  caricatures,  for  ^iviii^ 
I  .  and  liis  own  pronunciation  of  thorn.     It  is  not  my  fault  if 

bni  little  peculiarity  in  his  phraseology.     His  langnatja  was  never  elc- 
d.    But  In-   ipoke  better  than  the  peasantry 
though   he  said  -Mine    things    that   a  white   man  would    not 
say;  perba]  be  had  Mine  feelings  to  which  the  white  man  it  a 

stranger.     A   white   man,  for   example,  would  have  said  he  was  glad  to  see 
Douglas,  whether  he  were  so  or  not.     Old  Tom  said  In;  was  proud  to  see  liim, 
is  proud  to  recognize  his  former  j>ei  in  the  handsome  and  grace- 
ful youth  before  liiin. 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  56 

"I  do  remember  you,  Tom,"  said  Douglas,  cordially,  "and  many  a 
time,  on  parade,  have  I  been  thankful  to  you  for  teaching  mc  to  hold 
my  reins  and  manage  my  horse." 

"Ton  will  find  it  hard,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  gravely,  "to  convince  Tom 
that  you  remember  him,  if  you  call  him  by  that  name.  Tom  is  Delia's 
daddy,  and  Lucia's,  and  Arthur's,  and  Virginia's  daddy,  and  so  will  be 
to  the  day  of  his  death.  If  ever  he  ceases  to  be  your  daddy,  too,  Doug- 
las, I  shall  move  to  reconsider  the  vote  that  we  just  now  passed  unani- 
mously." 

"  It  is  a  vice  the  northern  air  has  blown  upon  me,"  said  Douglas, 
blushing.  "I  felt  the  truth  of  what  you  said  just  now,  and  am  not 
more  sure  of  being  affectionately  remembered  by  any  that  I  used  to 
know,  than  by  my  good  old  daddy." 

Mr.  Trevor  now  requested  Tom  to  see  that  the  horses  of  the  travel- 
lers were  properly  attended  to;  and  the  negro  left  the  room. 

"  What  a  graceful  and  gentlemanly  old  man !"  said  Douglas,  looking 
after  him. 

"His  manners,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "are  exactly  suited  to  his  situation 
Their  characteristic  is  proud  humility.  The  opposite  is  servile  sulki- 
ness,  of  which,  I  suspect,  Douglas,  you  have  seen  no  little." 

"I  have  seen  nothing  else,"  said  Douglas,  "among  the  servants  in 
the  North.  If  the  tempers  of  our  negroes  were  as  ferocious,  and  their 
feelings  as  hostile,  we  should  have  to  cut  their  throats  in  self-defence 
in  six  months." 

u  I  a.n  glad,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  you  have  not  learned  to  sacri- 
fice your  own  experience  to  the  fanciful  theories  of  the  Amis  dc  Noirs, 
at  least  on  this  point.  The  time,  I  hope,  will  come  when  you  will  see, 
if  you  do  not  already,  the  fallacy  of  all4 their  cant  and  sophistry  on  the 
subject  of  domestic  slavery.  You  will  then  bless  God  that  your  lot  has 
been  cast  where  the  freedom  of  all,  who,  in  the  economy  of  Providence, 
are  capable  of  freedom,  is  rendered  practicable  by  the  particular  form 
in  which  the  subordination  of  those  who  must  be  slaves  is  cast." 

"I  am  not  sure,"  said  Douglas,  "that  I  exactly  comprehend  you." 

'•  Perhaps  not,"  replied  the  uncle.  "And  that  reminds  me  that  I  am 
trespassing  on  forbidden  ground.  Just  there,  the  differences  of  opinion 
between  your  father  and  myself  commence;  and  from  that  point  ifiey 
diverge  so  much,  that  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  speak  to  his  son  on  cer- 
tain topics." 

"Hut  why  not,  my  dear  sir?  Y<m  sun-ly  cannot  expect  me  to  think 
with  my  father  on  all  subjects;  and  you  would  not  have  me  do  so,  whon 
you  thought  him  wrong.     I  do  not  profess  to  be  deeply  studied  in  these 

m 


56  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

matter.*;  bat,  between  your  lights  and  his,  I  might  hope  to  find  my  way 
to  the  truth." 

'Tli.  re  are  some  subjects,  Douglas,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  with  solera- 
"on  which  it  is  better  to  be  in  error  than  to  differ,  totally  and  con- 
tcienttouftly,  from  a  father.  Delia  is  but  a  girl;  but  should  she  have 
come  beak  to  me  changed  in  her  sentiments  ^opinions  she  cannot  have) 
in  regard  to  certain  matters,  1  should  feel  that  I  had  been  greviously 
wronged  by  any  one  who  had  wrought  the  change.  I  know  year  father 
has  not  done  this;  and  I  must  do  as  I  would  be  done  by,  and  as  I  am 
sure  I  have  been  done  by." 

••  I  cannot  conceive,"  said  Douglas,  "what  sort  of  subjects  th  ee  oao 
be,  concerning  which  error  in  opinion  is  better  than  truth,  under  any 
otreumstan 

"Those, "  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "in  which  truth  would  bring  duty  in 
conflict  with  duty." 

'  Nay,  then."  said  Douglas,  "there  is  no  danger  of  my  conversion  in 
such  cases.  I  should  take  that  as  an  infallible  proof  that  doctrines 
leading  to  such  consequences  must  be  false/' 

"  Your  proposed  test  of  truth  is  so  specious,"  observed  Mr.  Trevor, 
"that  I  will  go  so  far  as  to  say  one  word  to  convince  you  of  its  fallaey. 
If  ever  I  take  you  in   band,  my  lad,  my  first  lesson  will  be  to  teach  you 

to  examine  plausibilities  closely,  and  to  distrust  summary  and  simple 

arguments  on  topics  about  which  nun  differ." 

■  f>  £|  any  on.-,  then,  maintain,"  asked  Douglas,  "that  two  opinions 
whieb  impose  oonflioting  duties  can  both  be  right?" 

"I  shall  not  answer  that,"  answered  Mr.  Trevor.  "You  shall  answer 
it  yourself.  You  are  a  soldier  of  the  I'nited  States.  Suppose  an  in- 
surrection.     What,  in  that  OSSO.  would  be  your  duty?" 

.  "  To  fighl  against  the  rebels,"  replied  Douglas,  promptly. 

"  And,  thinking  as  you  do,  so  it  would  be.  Now,  suppose  your  father 
to  be  one  of  those  same  rebels." 

"I  see,"  said  Douglas,  after  a  pause,  in  which  he  colored  to  the  tips 
of  his  ears,  "  I  see  that  you  are  right." 

"  In  what  '!"  asked  Mr.  Trevor. 

"  In  maintaining,"  he  replied,  "that  two  opinions  which  prescribe 
conflicting  duties,  may  both  be  right." 

"  Hut  1  have  not  said  so,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  smiling. 

"  Uut  you  have  proved  it." 

"  I  am  not  quite  sure  of  that.  Here  is  another  summary  and  simple 
looking  argument,  on  a  difficult  question.  My  own  rule  is,  'distrust 
and  r<  -esaminc.'" 

0 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  57 

He  stopped  short,  while  Douglas  looked  at  him  with  a  perplexed  and 
wondering  eye.  He  at  length  went  on — "  I  shall  not  break  faith  with 
your  father  by  teaching  you  to  think.  You  have  the  propositions — 
and  you  see  there  is  fallacy  somewhere.  Analyse  the  subject,  and  find 
your  own  result.  But  come,  my  boy — this  is  poor  entertainment  for  a 
hungiy  traveller.  Your  aunt  has  some  dinner  for  you  by  this  time, 
and  here  is  Tom  come  to  tell  us  so.  Come,  give  me  your  arm,  and  help 
'me  to  the  dining  room." 

"  My  dear  father,"  said  Delia,  "  that  is  my  office." 

"  Both !  both !  my  children !"  exclaimed  the  old  man,  throwing 
away  his  other  crutch.  "  Why,  now  I  am  better  off  than  a  man  with 
sound  limbs."  •     • 

In  the  dining  room  Mrs.  Trevor  awaited  them.  A  hasty  greeting 
was  all  she  bad  allowed  herself  on  the  first  arrival  of  the  party ;  after 
which,  she  betook  herself  to  the  duties  of  housewifery  and  hospitality. 
They  found  her  standing  at  the  back  of  her  chair ;  and  Douglas,  as  he 
entered,  thought  he  had  rarely  seen  a  more  striking  figure.  She  was 
matronly  in  her  dress  and  air ;  tall,  majestic,  and  graceful  in  her  per- 
son ;  and  with  a  countenance  beaming  with  frankness,  animation  and 
intelligence.  She  had  been  a  beautiful  woman,  and,  being  much 
younger  than  her  husband,  was  still  handsome.  She  extended  her 
hand  to  Douglas  as  he  entered,  and  placing  him  near  her,  so  mingled 
the  courtesy  due  to  a  stranger  with  the  cordiality  of  an  old  acquaint- 
ance, as  to  make  him  feel  all  the  comfort  and  ease  of  home,  without 
ever  losing  a  sense  of  that  bland  influence,  which,  while  it  secures  de- 
corum, imposes  no  constraint. 

"  Would  you  have  known  me  ?"  asked  the  lady. 

"  I  cannot  say  I  could  have  identified  you,"  he  replied,  "  but  I  should 
have  recognized  you  as  one  I  ought  to  know." 

"  And  your  uncle  ?" 

"  Not  by  sight,  certainly,"  said  Douglas.  "  I  remember  him  too  dis- 
tinctly for  that.  He  is  too  much  altered.  But  I  know  him  by  his 
manners  and  conversation.  These  I  never  could  forget;  and  these  are 
the  same,  and  peculiarly  his  own.  I  remember  how  he  used  to  exer- 
cise my  mind,  and  make  me  talk,  and  yet  never  let  me  talk  without 
thinking." 

"  And  has  he  bce'n  at  the  old  game  already  ?" 

"  0,  yes  !  lie  has  set  me  to  revising  and  doubting  what  have  seemed 
to  mc  to  be  self-evident  truths,  and  proposes  to  leave  me  to  work  out 
the  problem  by  myself.  What  conclusion  I  am  to  settle  in,  I  cannot 
gpeMj  but,  from  present  appearances,  I  shall  not  be  surprised  if  I  go 


58  Mil    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

away  convinced  that  I  have  seven  fingers  on  one  hand,  and  hut  two  on 
iior — nine  in  all." 

••  H-   hap  not  touched  on  politics?" 

••  0,  no  !  That  subject  he  has  tabooed,  and  I  am  truly  sorry  for  it  ; 
fur  while  1  new  desire  to  waver  in  my  allegiance  to  the  Dotted  States, 
1  am  anxious  to  understand  what  may  become  me  as  a  Virginian.  If 
1  may  judge  from  what  my  father  says,  there  is  no  man  from  whom  I 
could  learn  more  on  that  subject  than  my  uncle." 

'■  His  lesson  would  not  be  a  short  one,"  ^replied  the  lady.  "  II is 
>•.  inni.uidments  on  behalf  of  the  State  are  only  second  in  authority 
with  him  to  the  decalogue;  and  the}*  do  not  lie  in  as  small  a  compass. 
Hut  he  fears  he  might  teach  you  some  things  your  father  would  wish 
you  to  unlearn." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,"  answered  Douglas.  u  I  meant  to  say 
that  there  is  no  man  whose  judgment  my  father  holds  in  higher 
respect." 

"  That  is  something  new,"  said  Mrs.  Trevor,  coloring,  and  with  a 
countenance  to  which  there  was  some  expression  of  wounded  pride.  I 
should  be  glad  to  be  convinced  of  that." 

'•  Why  should  you  doubt  it  ?"  added  the  young  man,  with  surprise. 

u  Because  it  has  not  always  been  so;  and,  as  I  claim  a  woman's 
plirUege  to,  admire  my  husband  above  all  men,  I  have  felt  hurt  at  it. 
Your  uncle  thinks  so  highly  of  his  brother's  wisdom  and  prudence, 
that  he  has  always  borne  to  be  thought  the  reverse  of  him  in  these 
things,  and  quietly  submitted  to  be  condemned  as  a  heretic  on  account 
of  opinions,  of  the  correctness  of  which  he  found  it  impossible  to 
doubt." 

"There  may  have  been  something  of  tins,"  said  Douglas,  earnestly; 
"  but  I  assure  you  it  il  noi  SO  BOW.  1  do  believe  one  motive  with  my 
father  for  wishing  me  to  make  this  visit,  is  his  desire  that  1  should 
hear  both  sides;  and  have  the  benefit  of  the  SBgaeitj  and  manly  sense 
which  he  imputes  to  my  uncle." 

"  He  will  have  to  tell  him  so  plainly,"  replied  Mrs.  Trevor,  u  before 
he  will  open  his  mouth  to  you.  Hut  I  shall  be  less  scrupulous — and  I 
am  m  daily  expectation  of  a  friend  whose  frankness  will  have  you  no 
cause  to  regret  your  uncle's  reserve." 

«  Who  ii  that '."  asked  Doughs. 

"  I  shall  leave  you  to  find  out.  You  will  see  many  here  who  feel 
and  think  with  your  uncle,  and  who  come  to  him  to  compare  thoughts 
and  concert  messunw,  Amoiiir  them  is  the  man  on  whom  the  desti- 
nies of  his  country  depend." 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  59 

» 

"  The  only  man  of  whom  I  should  predicate  that,"  replied  Douglas, 
with  some  quickness,  "  is  one  who,  I  am  very  sure,  never  comes  here.'* 

u  There  is  a  good  and  an  evil  principle,"  said  Mrs.  Trevor.  "  Events 
alike  depend  on  both.  You  speak  of  the  one  of  these — /  t>f  the 
other."  ' 

Douglas  felt  his  cheek  burn  at  this  remark.  His  aunt,  observing  it, 
added — "  You  see,  you  will  run  the  risk  of  adopting  dangerous  here- 
sies if  you  encourage  us  to  be  too  unreserved.  But  your  candor  and 
good  sense  may  be  trusted  to  lead  you*  right,  without  our  guidance." 

Douglas  felt  the  truth  of  the  lirst  part  of  (his  speech.  Whether  any 
thing  more  than  a  complimentary  turn  of  expression  was  meant  in  the 
closing  words,  he  did  not  know.  But  if  the  lady  intended  to  express 
a  hope  that  he  might  become  a  convert  to  the  disorganizing  notions 
which  he  feared  were  prevalent  in  her  circle,  he  took  the  liberty  to 
doubt  whether  h-er  anticipations  would  ever  be  realized.  He  now 
changed  the  conversation,  and  determined  to  take  a  second  thought 
before  he  invited  discussions  which  might  mislead  him.  He  found  he 
had  to  do  with  active  and  vigorous  minds,  against  which  he  might, 
perhaps,  vainly  strive  to  defend  himself,  even  with  truth  on«his  side. 
He  resolved,  therefore,  to  yield  to  the  inclination  which  led  him  to  pass 
his  time  with  his  young  friends,  and  chiefly  with  Delia. 


00  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

My  heart,  sweet  hoy,  -hall  be  thy  MpntobrOj 
I'll  beat  thee  hence,  and  let  ihern  li^ht  thai  will, 
Foi  I  have  murdered  BVhere  I   wouhl  not  kill. 

SHAKSPRARK. 

1  SHOULD  detain  the  reader  with  matters  not  worthy  of  a  place  in 
this  grave  history,  if  I  descended  to  the  particulars  of  the  intercourse 
between  Douglas  Trevor  and  his  charming  cousin.  It  is  enough  to 
that  he  found  himself,  daily,  more  and  more  happy  in  her  society; 
and  was  more  and  more  convinced  that  it  was  a  necessary  ingredient 
in  his  happiness.  It  was  not  long  before  he  concluded  that  he  would  - 
not  live  without  her;  and,  having  told  her  so,  was  referred  by  her  to 
her  father. 

Nothing  doubting  that  his  communication  would  be  favorably  re- 
ceived, Douglas  was  eager  to  break  the  matter  t«>  his  nnole,  and  ask  bis 
approbation  of  his  suit.  To  his  utter  amasement,  the  old  gentleman, 
ming  an  air  at  once  serious  and  tender,  said  :  "  My  dear  boy,  had  I 
the  world  to  choose  from,  there  is  no  man  t<>  whom  1  would  sooner  trust 
my  daughter's  happiness.  But  circumstances  forbid  your  union.  I 
speak  advisedly  and  sadly.  I  have  seen  what  was  passing.  I  antici- 
pated this  oommunieation,  and  deliberately  decided  en  my  answer." 

"For  <!<>d's  sake,  sir!"  exclaimed  Douglas,  trembling  with  im- 
patience, "  what  do  you  mean  ;  and  what  is  your  answer?" 

"  I  mean,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  -'and  my  answer  is,  that  circumstances 
forbid  it." 

"  Surely,"  said  Douglas,  "your  objection  is  not  to  the  nearness  of 
blood." 

"lam  not  addicted  to  any  such  exploded  superstition,"  said  Mr. 
Trevor.     "  But   my  daughter  must  never   marry  one  that   wears   that 

drem 

"  I  like  my  profession,  sir,"  said  Douglas,  but  will  change  it  without 
hesitation." 

•(Ill  forbid!"  replied  the  old  gentleman.  "I  would  not  have  you 
d"  s<>;  and  were  you  so  inclined,  it  would  not  be  in  your  choice." 

'J  1  (an  resign  when  1  will,  and  my  resignation  will  certainly  be  ac- 
cepted." 


THE   PARTISAN  LEADER.  61 

u  Still  you  would  be  a  soldior,  and  you  must  be  a  soldier.  Peace  is 
not  in  our  choice,  and  the  time  is  at  hand  when  every  man,  who  can 
wield  a  sword,  must  do  so." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir,"  said  Douglas  in  amazement. 

"  I  am  aware  you  do  not.  It  is  time  you  should.  You  have  now  a 
right  to  understand  me ;  and  I  have  a  right  to  be  understood  by  you. 
We  arc  on  the  eve  of  what  you  will  call  rebellion.  I  shall  call  it  a 
war  of  right  and  liberty.  I  am  old  and  infirm  •  but  I  am  not  al- 
ways imprisoned  by  the  gout;  and  nothing  but  physical  inability 
shall  keep  me  from  sustaining,  with  my  sword,  a  cause  that  I  have 
always  advocated  with  tongue  and  pen.  It  will  be  bad  enough  to 
meet  the  sons  of  my  brother  in  arms  against  my  country.  That  I  can- 
not help.  But  it  is  in  my  choice  whether  I  shall  thus  meet  my 
daughter's  husband.     That  must  never  be.' 

He  ceased  to  speak,  and  the  young  man,  dizzy  with  mixed  thoughts 
and  feelings,  sat  gazing  at  him  in  mute  astonishment.  At  length,  start- 
ing up,  he  was  about  to  leave  the  room,  when  the  old  gentleman  held 
out  his  hand.  Douglas  gave  his,  and  his  uncle,  pressing  it  cordially, 
went  on:  "My  son,"  said  he,  "you  arc  the  only  male  of  my  race  in 
whom  I  recognize  any  thing  which  tolls  me  that  the  same  blood  flows 
in  our  veins.  We  cannot  help  the  selfishness  that  disposes  us  to  love 
those  who  resemble  us  even  in  our  faults.  It  might  be  better  for  you 
not  to  resemble  me,  and  perhaps  I  ought  to  wish  that  you  did  not.  But 
I  cannot.  I  find  it  easier  to  forget  that  jou  are  not  my  son,  and  to 
love  you  as  if  you  were.  The  hope  that  you  may  yet  be  so,  is  hardly 
less  dear  to  me  than  to  you.  That  you  will  be  so,  if  '  you  outlive  the 
envy'  of  those  awTful  events  which  shall  open  your  eyes,  I  can  hardly 
doubt.  But  these  things  must  do  their  work.  The  convictions  which 
shall  make  you  throw  off  the  badges  of  allegiance  to  him  whose 
sworn  foe  I  am,  must  come  of  themselves.  While  ypu  wear  them,  I 
am  bound  to  respect  your  honor  by  saying  nothing  to  shake  your  faith 
in  him,  and  to  his  cause.  In  the  mean  time,  I  can  but  hope  for  the 
best.  I  do  hope;  and  I  invite  you  to  hope.  But  for  the  present,  hope 
must  be  our  all.  Things  must  remain  as  they  are  until  it  pleases  God 
so  to  order  events  as  to  make  your  sense  of  duty  to  your  country  con- 
sistent with  that  which,  as  my  daugh  cr's  husband,  you  will  owe  to  her 
and  to  her  father." 

I  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  the  consternation  of  Douglas  at  this 
decisive  condemnation  of  his  proposed  plan  of  happiness,  and  at  the 
astounding  intelligence  that  accompanied  it.  He  saw  plainly  that  his 
uncle  spoke  not  conjecturally,  but  from  certain  knowledge;  and  ho  was 
sure,  that  under  such  circumstances,  no  attachment  could  tempt  Delia 


TriE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

him.     He  did  not  therefore  attempt  to  continne  the  discussion 
of  th«-  subject;  }<ut  left  tin'  house  :iml  wandered  iota  the  fields. 

tumult  of  1» i^  mind  rendered  him  incapable  of  reflection.     I 
doI  sttem]  t  to  snartas  the  chaos  of  liis  thoughts.     Put  light,  not 
Boated  on  the  surface.     The  hand  of  Delia  was  indeed  with- 
mod,  but  he  wm  net  forbidden  to  hope  that  it  might  one 
r  other  be  his.     Should  it  even  be  true  that  rebellion  was  awake, 
ami  that  civil  war  VU   at    hand,  he   was   DOt    told    that    fidelity  to   his 
standard  would  be  imputed  to  him  as   a  erime.     The  strife  must  end 
one  way  or  the  other,  and  that  being  past,  he  would  no  longer  be  con- 
demned to  the  hard  alternative  of  relinquishing  the  object  of  hie  most 
ardent  wish,  or  exhibiting  the  shocking  spectacle  of  a  husband  warriug 
I  the  father  of  his  wife. 

O 

Put  what  was  to  be  done  in  the  mem  time?  Should  the  old  geth 
tinman  take  the  field,  he  must  find  some  other  theatre  of  action,  and 
his  father's  influence  with  the  President  would  readily  procure  him 
that  indulgence.  As, to  the  idea  of  renouncing  what  he  had  been 
taught  to  call  his  allegiance  to  the  Federal  Grorernmeut,  ami  aiding  to 
maintain  the  dishonored  BOYerejgnty  ol  his  native  State,  jt  did  not 
enter  his  mind.  Vet  there  was  something  in  its  wordings  that  sud- 
denly  awakened  an  undefined  interest  in  the  late  correspondence  between 
his  father  and  the  President.  He  do  sooner  thought  of  this,  than  his 
reatlem  wanderings  received  a  definite  direction  to  the  neighboring 
post-often. 

He  there  found  a  letter  fmrn  his  lather.  Containing  little  more  than 
the  copy  of  one  from  the  President     Its  contents  were  as  follows  : 

"WASBnaiOK,  March  20,  1849. 

"3Iv  DKABBIB:  Four  letter  has  been  rccciTed,  and,  to  mr,  is  en- 
tirely satisfactory.  Put  T  regret  to  inform  you  that,  to  those  friends 
whom  1  i'eel  myself  bound  to  consult,  it  is  not  BO.  Such  of  them,  in- 
deed, as  are  acquainted  with  your  high  character,  do  not  intimate  :» 
doubt  that  a  full  explanation  of  the  affa»7  would  entirely  justify  your 
tsearanoe  that  1  have  been  misinformed. 

"  But  they  remind  me  tint  my  information  comes  from  a  source 
entitled  to  all  respect  and  confidence,  and  that,  by  making  thns  light 
of  it.  I  nw7  estrange  a  friend,  whom  they  regard  as  hardly  less 
fahmbla  and  meritorious  than  him  whose  feelings  I  wish  to  save.  They 
represent,  moreover,  that  the  affair  is  bruited  in  the  army,  and  that 
some  officers  arc  malcontent  at  the  thought  that  a  charge  so  serious 
should  be  passed  over  without  enquiry,  on  the  bare  assurance  of  a 
father's  confidence  in  the  innocence  of  his  son. 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  63 

"Under  these  circumstances,  should  Lieutenant  TreTor  not  demand 
a  court  of  inquiry,  I  am  fearful  I  may  be  constrained,  against  my  wish, 
to  order  a  court-martial.  Need  I  tell  you,  my  dear  sir,  how  earnestly  T 
deprecate  the  necessity  of  a  measure,  which  must  so  nearly  touch  one 
to  whose  friendship  I  feel  so  much  indebted,  and  whose  loyalty  to  the 
Union  and  its  officers  has  always  been  so  conspicuous  and  steady. 
"  I  remain,  my  dear  sir, 

"  Your  assured  friend, 

"M.  V.  B." 

To  this  copy  Mr.  Trevor  added  these  words : 

u  The  discretion,  good  sense,  and  proper  feeling  you  have  already 
manifested  in  this  affair,  hare  been  so  conspicuous,  that  I  choose  rather 
to  trust  its  future  conduct  entirely  to  yourself  than  to  embarrass  you 
by  any  advice  of  mine.  Yet,  there  is  one  person,  my  dear  boy,  with 
whom  I  would  have  you  to  advise.  Your  uncle  has  been  a  soldier  in 
his  youth,  and  is  profoundly  versed  in  all  matters  of  military  etiquette. 
He  is,  moreover,  a  clear-sighted  and  sagacious  man,  who  will,  at  once, 
see  this  matter  in  all  its  bearings  and  relations  to  other  subjects.  His 
views  aro  not  only,  in  general,  more  comprehensive  than  mine,  but  I 
suspect  he  is,  at  tins  moment,  aware  of  considerations  which  might 
properly  influence  you,  and  which  are  hidden  from  mc.  I  know  his 
guarded  and  delicate  reserve,  in  all  his  communications  with  my  chil- 
dren, where  he  apprehends  a  difference  of  opinion  between  himself  and 
me.  Tell  him  that  he  has  my  thanks  for  it;  bat  that  I  shall  be  yet 
more  obliged,  if,  in  this  instance,  he  will  cast  it  aside  entirely,  and 
give  you  the  benefit  of  all  his  thoughts,  as  if  you  were  his  own  son.  I 
fear  my  last  days  may  be  spent  in  bitter  regrets  tiUat  I  myself  have  not 
heretofore  made  more  avail  of  them.'' 


64  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHATTER   XIII. 

It  it  enough  10  grieve  the  heart 

To  think  that  God's  fair  world  hutli  been 

Tha  footstool  ef  B  tiling  so  mean.  BtEOM. 

TiiK  evening  was  fur  advanced  when  Douglas  again  reached  his 
uncle ".-  hcu>c.  He  went  immediately  to  his  room,  and  sent  to  request 
■  private  interview  with  Mr.  Trevor.  He  was  accordingly  invited  into 
the  little  study  of  the  old  gentleman,  where  he  commonly  sat  surround- 
ed by  books  and  papers.  On  entering  the  room,  he  observed  an  el- 
derly gentleman,  whom  he  had  never  seen  before,  pass  out  at  a  door 
communicating  with  the  drawing-room. 

Douglas  now  silently  handed  his  lather's  letter  to  his  uncle.  Mr. 
Trevor  read  it  attentively,  and  again  am]  again  looked  over  it,  resting 
his  eye  on  particular  passages,  as  if  to  possess  himself  of  the  full  mean- 
ing of  every  expression.  The  subject  was  in  itself  interesting,  and 
quite  new  to  him.  But  he  felt  a  yet  deeper  interest  in  the  obscure  in* 
timutii.ns  of  a  change  in  his  brother's  mind  in  regard  to  those  matters 
abort  which    they  had  BO  long    and  so  painfully  differed.      Kven  if  he  i 

mi-taken  in  this,  it  was  consoling  to  find  himself  rising  in  the  esti- 
mation of  Mr.  llu.L'h  Trevor;  do  longer  regarded  by  him  as  rash,  reck- 
.  and  inconsiderate,  but  consulted  as  a  u  clear-sighted  and  sagacious 
man"  in  an  affair  of  very  great  importance.  He  alone,  who  has  been 
conscious  of  being  thus  undervalued  by  a  friend  at  once  beloved  and 
respected,  can  estimate  the  satisfaction  which  Mr.  Trevor  felt  at  that 
moment.  If  there  was  any  mixture  of  alloy  with  this  pleasure,  it 
flowed  from  self-reproach.  He  had  sometimes  found  it  impossible  to 
repress  some  little  risings  of  resentment  at  finding  his  judgment  ha* 
bitually  disabled  by  his  elder  brother.  He  bad,  indeed,  been  once  a 
little  white-headed  hoy,  when  the  other  was  a  highly  intelligent  and 
promising  youth.  Nut  at  sixty  he  was  not  quite  content  to  be  still 
looked  on  as  a  child.  Yet,  when  he  remarked  the  candor  of  his  bro- 
ther's language,  and  the  self-abasing  sadness  of  his  tone,  he  was  vexed 
to  think  that  one  unkind  thought  toward  him  had  ever  entered  his 
mind. 

At  length,  he  interrupted  this  train  of  thought  to  ask  of  Douglas  an 
explanation  of  the  President's  letter.     In  answer,  he  received  a  de- 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  65 

tailed  account  of  the  scene  at  the  falls,  and  was  permitted  to  read  the 
correspondence  which  had  grown  out  of  it. 

"  I  have  heard  something  of  this  before,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  Delia 
told  me  all  that  passed  in  her  presence,  and  showed  me  Baker's  pali- 
node, which  is  rather  the  most  extraordinary  document  that  I  ever  saw. 
Why,  the  dog  acknowledges  that  he  actually  intended  to  insult  a  lady. 
He  might,  at  least,  have  had  the  grace  to  lie  about  it.  False  shame  is 
better  than  no  shame  at  all." 

"  He  would  have  been  glad  to  put  the  matter  on  that  footing,"  said 
Douglas,  "  could  he  have  got  leave  to  do  so.  He  sent  me  such  a  paper 
as  you  suppose,  but  I  refused  to  receive  it.  .His  apolosry  to  me  I  knew 
to  be  false.  It  was,  therefore,  the  more  satisfactory  because  the  more 
humiliating.  But  I  sent  him  word  that  I  would  not  take  anything  to 
my  cousin  but  the  truth.  Here,"  continued  Douglas,  "  is  his  first^;>o/cf 
of  an  apology,  and  of  my  rejection  of  it." 

Mr.  Trevor  read  them,  nnd  then  said  :  "This  is  well.  I  knew  you 
had  acted  handsomely,  but  hoic  handsomely,  I  had  not  conceived  of. 
But  let  me  hear,  I  pray  you,  how  all  this  has  been  tortured  into  an  of- 
fence against  majesty." 

Douglas  colored  slightly  at  the  word,  and  handed  his  uncle  a  copy  of 
the  President's  first  letter  to  his  father.  He  had  but  to  add  an  account 
of  his  subsequent  conversation  with  his  father,  and  Mr.  Trevor  was  in 
possession  of  the  whole  affair. 

"  You  see,"  said  Douglas,  "  that  I  am  referred  to  you  for  advice,  and 
that  you  are  invited  to  say  to  me,  unreservedly,  what  you  will." 

"  I  do  see,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  I  have  carte  otanche,  as  far 
as  depends  on  your  father ;  but  there  are  some  things  I  would  now  say 
to  his  son,  which  it  would  not  be  proper  to  say  to  a  soldier  of  the  United 
Stolen.  T  cannot,  therefore,  discard  all  reserve,  but  all  that  he  has 
ever  imposed  on  me  I  now  shake  off.  Indeed,  I  should  have  done  this 
now,  without  his  'permission.  You  are  my  son  as  well  as  his.  You 
have  shown  that  you  know  how  to  protect  my  daughter,  and  have  fairly 
earned  a  right  to  protect  her  through  life.  Nay,  no  raptures,  no  thank.''. 
The  exercise  of  this  right  must  b.e  postponed  until  affairs  have  taken  a 
different  shape  from  that  they  bear  at  present.  But,  revenona  "  not 
moutont  I  The  question  is,  what  you  are  to  do  to  save  this  despicable, 
heartless  wretch,  from  the  necessity  <>f  offending  a  wretch  even  baser 
than  himself,  whom  even  he  d.  spisi  - 

"  Whom  do  you. mean  ?"  asked  Douglas. 

"  I  mean,"  replied  the  Other,  "  the  President  and  the  older  Baker, 
that  tame  slave  of  power,  that  shameless,  mercenary  pander,  who.  hav- 
5 


fir,  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.' 

li  talent  and  reputation,  sold  the  one  and  sacrificed  the  other  for 
ofli, ,  and  infamy."  . 

'•  And  ifl  it  for  such  ■  man,"  exclaimed  Douglas,  "  that  I  am  required 
tu  male  disclosure.^  before  a  court  of  inquiry,  or  a  court  martial,  which 
tCJ  and  self-respect  forbid?  Never!  lie  the  alternative  what  it 
may,  I  shall  never  consent  to  it." 

"  You  are  right,  my  son,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  nor  can  I  relieve  you 
from  the  difficulty  by  authorizing  the  profanation  of  my  daughter'* 
name,  to  which  such  an  investigation  would  lead.  My  duty  on  that 
head  is  peremptory,  not  discretionary.  If  your  father  were  anything 
but  the  perfect  gentleman  he  is,  I  might  suspect  that  his  reference  to 
me  was  intended  to  elicit  some  such  suggestion.  But  I  know  him  bet- 
ter. I  infer  from  his  letter  more  than  you  discover  there  ;  and  I  am 
not  sure  that  the  advice  which  I  am  most  disposed  to  give,  is  that 
which  he  would  be  best  pleased  to  see  you  follow/' 

"  What  would  that  advice  be  ?"  asked  Douglas,  anxiously. 

"  Naj, '  replied  the  old  gentleman,  "  when  1  have  mad*-  np  ipy  mind, 
you  shall  know." 

"  But  why  not  give  me  your  thoughts,"  said  the  youth,  "  and  let  us 
discuss  them  ?" 

'•  Because,  circumstanced  as  you  are,  we  cannot  properly  discuss 
them.  I  can  but  give  you  my  judgment,  when  1  have  formed  it,  and 
leave  you  to  find  out  reasons  for  it." 

"  My  own  first  thought,"  said  Douglas,  "  is  to  resign.  Let  us  dis- 
cuss that." 

"  It  was  mine  too,"  said  the  uncle,  "and  there  is  therefore  no  occa- 
sion to  discuss  it.  Though  I  had  not  sufficiently  matured  my  opinion 
to  announce  it  to  you,  I  think  1  may  promise  that  if  you  come  to  that 
conclusion,  I  shall  not  dissent  from  it." 

"  The  only  difficulty  that  I  see  in  the  way,"  said  Douglas,  "  is  th.it 
an  offer  to  resign  is,  under  such  circumstances,  gencunlly  understood  a9 
::  ikrinking  from  inquiry." 

"  It  is  so;  and  the  opinion  is  so  far  right,  that  when  the  charge  is 
infamous,  resignation  doubles  the  infamy.  It  is  a  tacit  consent  to  be 
infamous,  only  on  condition  that  one  may  be  safe." 

'•  You  state  the  point  with  startling  force,"  said  the  youth  ;  "and 
how  would  you  distinguish  this  case  from  the  one  you  suppose?" 

"By  distmgnishing  the  accusation  from  one  of  falsehood,  peculation, 
or  cowardice.  Should  you  plead  guilty  to  such  charges  ;-.s  these,  or 
reck  to  evade  them  by  resignation,  you  stand  dishonored.  But  read 
over  the  President's  bill  of  indictment.     Now  suppose  it  true  that  you 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER..  67 

had  entertained  and  avowed  the  sentiments  there  imputed  to  you, 
would  there  he  any  dishonor  in  that?" 

"  Certainly  not ;  unless  my  being  an  officer  of  the  United  Stalest 
would  make  a  difference." 

"  Should  that  prevent  you  from  thinking,  or  take  away  a  freeman's 
right  to  express  his  thoughts?" 

"  It  would  seem  not.     But  does  it  not  make  some  difference  ?" 

"  Certainly.  Shall  I  tell  you  what  it  is  ?  Such  sentiments  would 
make  it  your  duty  (not  to  the  United  States,  but  to  Virginia  and  to 
yourself,)  to  resign.  Now,  it  is  because  I  have  no  mind  to  seduce  a 
soldier  from  his  standard,  that  I  have  been  careful  not  to  infuse  such 
sentiments  into  you.  If  once  j:ou  lay  aside  the  panoply  of  the  uniform, 
and  throw  away  the  amulet  of  the  commission,  I  would  not  ensure  you 
against  opinions  which  you  may  have  to  maintain  at  the  hazard  of  your 
life.  But  time  presses.  Your  own  suggestion  disposes  me  to  speak 
more  promptly  and  decidedly  than  I  should  otherwise  have  done.  I 
therefore  say,  tender  your  resignation.  Butfif  you  have  no  objection, 
I  should  like  to  consult  a  friend,  on  whose  most  hasty  opinions  I  rely 
more  than  on  the  coolest  judgment  of  others." 

"  If  you  mean  my  aunt,"  said  Douglas,  "  I  know  few  persons  on 
whose  instinctive  sense  of  propriety  I  should  place  more  reliance." 

"  She  would  well  deserve  your  confidence  j  but  I  mean  the  gentle- 
man who  left  the  room  as  you  entered.  He  has  been  her  friend  for 
thirty  years,  and  mine  for  more  than  half  that  time." 

"  But  to  me,"  said  Douglas, "  he  is  an  utter  stranger,  and  I  feel  some 
delicacy  in  consulting  a  stranger  on  such  an  occasion." 

"  You  forget,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  all  there  is  of  delicacy  in  the 
case  touches  me  as  nearly  as  you.  It  is  not  you,  a  stranger,  but  I,  an 
intimate  friend,  who  propose  to  ask  his  advice.  Charge  that  matter  to 
my  account,  then,  and  merely  decide  for  yourself,  whether  it  may  not 
be  desirable  to  have  the  counsel  of  one  as  remarkable  for  scrupulous 
delicacy,  as  for  sagacity  and  resource  f" 

"There  can  be  but  one  answer  to  that  question, "  replied  Douglas, 
"and  I  shall  therefore  gladly  take  the  benefit  of  his  advice." 

The  hand-bell  sounded,  and  the  ever  ready  Tom  appeared.  "  My 
respects  to  Mr.  15 — ,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  Ask  him,  if  he  pleases,  to 
walk  into  this  mom." 

Tom  disappeared,  and  BOOH  returned,  marshalling  in  Mr.  V> — .  lie 
man  apparently  of  sixty  years  of  age,  or  more,  slightly  formed, 
but  tall,  erect,  clean-limbed,  and  Miitwy.  His  vigor  seemed  little  im- 
paired by  time,  though  bis  high  and  strong  features  made  him  look  at 
lea.-t  as  old  he  was.     A  light  blue  eye,  clear  and  sparkling,  quick  in  ittt 


68  THE    TARTISAN    LEADER. 

.  but  h  ttl.  d  tnd  Marching  in  ita  gaae,  wae.  the  itriking  feature  of 
his  face.  The  sun  had  burned  out  all  traces  of  his  original  complexion, 
and  a  silver  hue  had  usurped  the  color  of  his  hair.  His  whole  a: 
■nee  was  imposing,  and  while  it  commanded  the  respect  due  to  the  wisdom 
of  age,  seemed  to  claim  no  pity  for  its  infirmities.  To  this  sentiment, 
which  enters  so  largely  into  the  composition  of  that  character  which  the 
world  calls  venerable,  he  certainly  made  no  pretensions.  No  one  would 
have  called  him  venerable,  though  no  man  was  held  in  higher  veneration 
by  those  who  knew  him. 


THE   PARTISAN  LEADER.  69 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

I  had  not  loved  thee,  dear,  so  much, 

Loved  I  not  honor  more.  Lovelach. 

The  frankness  and  cordiality  of  his  manner,  when  introduced  to 
Douglas,  gave  assurance  that  he  took  a  great  interest  in  the  young  man, 
•who  felt,  on  his  part,  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  a  man  of  no  com- 
mon mould,  and  that  in  that  man  he  had  found  an  efficient;  friend. 

'And  now,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "pass  the  word  for  coffee  and 
privacy  in  this  room." 

Tom  bowed  and  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Trevor,  without  preface  or 
apology,  proceeded  to  lay  the  case  before  his  friend.  This  he  did  with 
great  precision  of  statement,  while  the  other  listened  with  an  air  which 
showed  that  no  word  was  lost  on  him.  Having  got  through,  Mr.  Tre- 
vor added  :  "  AVe  now  wish  you  to  advise  what  should  be  done  in  this 
case." 

"Resign,  by  all  means,"  said  Mr.  B — .     "Resign  immediately  !" 

"  Your  reasons?"  asked  Mr.  Trevor. 

"  There  are  plenty  of  them,  of  which  you  are  aware,"  said  B — ,  "  and 
with  which  our  young  friend  shall  be  made  acopuainted  after  resig- 
nation, not  before.  JJut  there  are  others  which  may  be  spoken  of  now. 
The  alternative  is  a  court  of  inquiry,  a  court-martial,  or  resignation. 
To  the  two  first  the  same  objection  applies.  Your  nephew  cannot  ex- 
pect any  satisfactory  result  from  cither,  but  by  the  use  of  means  which, 
I  am  sure,  his  delicacy  would  not  permit  him  to  use — I  mean  the  pub- 
lic use  of  a  lady's  name.  Some  people  have  a  taste  for  that,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  world  it  is  all  the  rage.  I  thank  Cod  that  the  fash- 
ion has  not  reached  us.  A  woman,  exposed  to  notoriety,  learns  to  bear 
and  then  to  love  it.  "When  she  gets  to  that,  she  should  go  N  orth  ; 
write  books;  patronize  abolition  societies,  or  keep  a  boarding-school. 
She  is  no  longer  fit  to  be  the  wife  of  a  Virginia  gentleman.  But  there 
is  no  need  to  say  this.  You,  Trevor,  were  your  nephew  so  inclined, 
would  never  permit  the  name  of  your  daughter  to  be  thus  profaned." 

"  I  could  oppose  nothing  t ■  ■  it,"'  said    Mr.  Trevor,  "  but  my  displea- 
sure.    And  though  1  might  not  wish  it,  could  I  have  a  right  to  la-  dis- 
plca<ed  with  Douglas  for  vindicating  himself  from  a  charge  which 
grown  out  of  his  gallant  defence  of  her  ?     Think  of  the  favorable  stand- 


70  THL    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

family  ;  observe  the  rapid  promotion  of  his  brother;  and 

consider  whether  a  punctilio  of  this  sort  should  bind  him  to  renounce 

90  flattering  t" 

••  W.  re  the  prospi  ct  more  flattering  than  you  state  it,"  said  B — ,  "  it 

my  opinion.     Bat  what  proepeet  is  there?     Colonel 

Trevor  is  perhaps  a  favorite  at  court     Bo,donbtli  nr  brother; 

but  he  is  not  a  man  whose  fidelity  is  either  to  be  bought  or  rewarded; 

and  lie  and  his  will  1"\  at  any  moment,  postponed  ami  sacrified  to  the 

mercenary,  who  mighi  desert  ami  even  mutiny  fur  want  of  pay.     Hen 

is  proof  of  it. 

"Look  at  the  shallow  pretext  for  this  proposed  court-martial.  The 
lent  is  pleased  to  say  that  he  believes  your  brother;  but  that 
there  arc.  (hone  who  do  not.  Who  are  they  ?  Who  can  they  be?  Who 
is  there,  worthy  to  be  accounted  among  his  advisers,  that  can  disbe- 
uaything  that  Hugh  Trevor  shall  assert?  Don't  yon  see  the 
cheat?  Don't  you  sec  that  your  brother,  whose  attachment  to  th. 
Union, based  as  it  is  on  principle,  may  be  safely  trusted,  is  to  have  bis  feel- 
ings wounded  to  gratify  the  mortified  pride  of  the  elder  Baker,  and 
the  skulking  malice  of  his  son?  Fou,  Mr.  Trevor,  know  hitter  than 
I  do  who  are  about  the  President.  Is  there  one  among  them  to  whom 
your  father's  word  would  need  the  rapport  of  other  testimony?  Good 
old  man  !    So  little  has,  he  of  pride  or  jealousy,  that  this  thought  never 

occurs  to  him.  He  is  modestly  asking  himself  what  ri^rht  lie  has  to 
expect  credence  from  those  who  do  not  know  him.  And  who  are  these 
malcontent  officers?  Think  you  there  is  one  of  them  who  would  ven- 
ture to  express  his  dissatisfaction  to  you  ?  No.  There  is  no  one  mal- 
content. No  one  dissatisfied  but  that  son  of  the  horse-leech,  whose 
mouth  is  ever  agape,  and  never  can  be  filled. 

"Do  look  at  this  letter,"  continued  ]>— .  addressing  Mr.  Trevor. 
■•  How  perfectly  in  character.  Not  one  traversable  allegation  (as  the 
except  that  of  bis  friendship  for  your  brother.  'Those 
friends  whom  I  feel  bound  to  consult!'  Who  are  they?  Tress  him, 
and  I  dare  say  some  fellow  below  contempt,  some  scullion  of  the  kitchen 
political  or  the  kitchen  gastronomical,  may  he  found  to  father  what  it 
is  alleged  that  these  friends  have  said.  '  His  information  is  from  a 
source  entitled  to  all  confidence  !'  Docs  he  even  say  that  as  id'  himself? 
No.  Hi'  charges  that,  too,  on  his  friends,  though  it  might  not  be  easy 
to  find  a  sponsor  for  that  compliment  to  old  Dakcr.  Since  the  death  of 
his  brother  pimp  Ritchie,  1  think  that  sort  of  thing  has  gone  out  of 
fashion.  'Hardly  less  valuable  and  meritorious  than  your  brother.' 
T!i  -  ime  authority.  '  On  <lit,'  '  thnj  say  '  I  think  this  last  On  would 
be  as  hard  to  find  a«  that  universal  author  of  mischief,  Nubody. 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  71 

"  But  when  we  come  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  army,  it  is  worse 
still.  Here  is  on  dit  upon  on  dit.  Somebody  says  that  somebody  else 
is  dissatisfied  ;  and  such  are  the  gossamer  threads,  woven  into  a  veil  to 
hide  this  insult  to  your  brother,  and  this  indignity  to  your  nephew. 
Take  away  these,  and' what  remains  but  a  wish  to  soothe  Baker?  And 
what  must  be  the  force  of  those  favorable  dispositions  to  your  young 
friend,  which  are  to  be  counteracted  by  such  a  motive  ?  By  a  reluc- 
tance to  offend  an  abject  wretch  too  spiritless  to  resent,  and  without 
influence  to  make  his  reseKtment  at  all  formidable." 

"  Enough  I"  said  Douglas ;  u  I  will  send  on  my  resignation  by  the 
next  mail." 

"  No,  my  dear  sir,"  said  B — ,  "  don't  yield  too  readily  to  mj  sug- 
gestions." 

"  It  was  his  own  suggestion,  and  already  approved  by  me,"  said  Mr. 
Trevor.  "Had  you  dissented,  we  would  have  reconsidered  the  mat- 
ter.    As  it  is,  we  are  but  confirmed  in  our  decision." 

"That  being  the  case,"  said  B — ,  "I  have  only  to  say  distinctly 
that  the  thing  admits  of  no  doubt  with  me.  I  am  not  only  sure  that, 
in  resigning,  your  nephew  will  do  w&at  best  becomes  him  as  a  gentle- 
man, but  that  he  will  make  a  fortunate  escape  from  the  services  of  one 
whose  maxim  it  is  to  reward  none  but  the  mercenary." 

0  Then  go  to  work,  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Trevor ;  "  the  mail  goes  at 
daylight.  Enclose  your  letter  of  resignation,  unsealed,  in  one  to  your 
father.  I  will  have  them  mailed  to-night,  and  you  will  get  an  answer 
in  a  week.  Here  are  the  materials.  Write,  and  we  will  chat  and  take 
our  coffee.     By  the  way,  Douglas,  you  have  not  dined." 

"  Thank  you,  my  dear  uncle,  I  am  too  busy  to  be  hungry,"  said 
the  youth." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  the  old  gentleman.  "  It  is  not  so  long  since  I  was 
young  but  that  I  understand  your  trim.  Starving  is  better  than 
blood-letting,  and  a  full  heart  needs  the  one  or  the  other." 

When  Douglas's  letters  were  finished,  he  would  gladly  have  put  them 
into  Delia's  hands  before  he  sent  them  off;  but  he  found,  what  most 
men  have  been  surprised  to  find,  that  after  what  had  passed  in  the 
morning  between  him  and  Delia,  it  was  much  harder  to  obtain  an  in- 
terview with  her  than  before.  When  a  young  gentleman  makes  a  visit 
of  some  days  to  a  friend  in  the  country,  whose  daughter  suspects  that 
he  has  something  to  sajT  to  her  that  she  is  impatient  to  hear,  it  in 
amusing  to  sco  bow  many  chances  will  bring  them  together.  Each  of 
them  is  always  happening  to  bay<  II  to  go  where  the  other  hap- 

pens to  be  ;  and  when  together,  each  is  apt  to  be  detained  in  the  room 
by  some  interesting  occupation  until  the  rest  of  the  company  have  left 


72  Tin:  PARTISAN   leadbr. 

it      T  ntinually  meeting  in  ptHMgfW  ind  on  staircases  ;  and, 

weather,  they  am  almost  trull  into  the  garden  about 

me    time.      Hut   let   the  deci.-ive  word  be  once  spoken,  and  all  is 

Then,  bless  us,  how  we  blush  !  ami  how  we  glide  thr  ugh 

half-open  doors,  ami  slip  away  around  corners  ! 

it  will  happen,  ai  love  makes  people  n  A  both  will   ri-e 

early,  and  so  meet  iii  the  parlor  before  others  are  awake.     Ami  then 

"the  dewy  ere  end  risim:  moon,"  and  the  quiet  walk   "by 

wimplingburn  and  leafy  shaw  ;"  but  as  to  a  private  word  in  the  bust- 
ling hours  of  the  day,  that  is  out  of  the  question. 

All  this  is  the  result   of  sheer  accident.     Sec  how  innocent  and  art- 

Aud  how  light  and  elastic  is  her  step  as  she  moves 

along;  Irr   swan  like   neck   outstretched,  her  face   Blightly   upturned, 

her  eye  swimming  in  light,  and  looking  as  if  the  veil  of  futurity  were 

before   her,  and   all   the   gay  visions  of  hope  stood  disci 
bright  reality.     Is  she  not  beautiful  ?     (),  the  charm   of  mutual   love! 
Who    can  wonder    that    each    man's    mistress,  wearing   this    Cytherean 
lone,  is,  in  his  eyes,  the  Queen  of  Beauty  herself'/ 

But  I  forget  myself.  What  place  forthottghte  like  these  in  a  ehron- 
icle  of  wars  and  revolutions?     True,  it  is  Is  BUCh  •  thai  the  spring 

.t  event-  is  found  ;   but  these  belong  to  the  history  of    man  in  all 
in   all   countries,   under   all    eircuins'.anct •-.     It    was   so  "before 
Hejen"  and  will  be  BO  while  the  world  stands.     But  it  may  not  be  un- 
profitable to  look  into  the  chain  of  cause  and  consequence,  and  to  tr.'.v 
the  deliverance  of  Virginia  from  thraldom,  and  the  defeat  of  the  usurp- 
ll-hud  plans,  to  tin.'  impertinent  speech  of  one  of  his  minions  to  ■ 

country  girl,  during  ipic-liic  party  at  the  falls  of  James  riv<  r. 

But  to  return.     Douglas  took  a  copy  of  his  letter  id' resignation,  and, 
meeting   Delia  the  next  morning,  put  it  into  her  hands.     She  read  it 
with  a  grave  and   thoughtful   countenance)  and    then,  looking   sadly   in 
,  said  :  "  This  is  what  I  fear,  d 

'•  What  you  feared  !"  replied  he,  in  amazement.  "Tan  youthen 
wish  me  tO  retain  my  place  in  the  army?" 

"  Until  you  resign  it  to  conviction  and  a  sense  of  duty,  certainly'" 
1  can  you  doubt  that  I  have  done  so?" 

••  How  can  itjbe  so  ?"  she  replied.  "  But  yesterday  we  spoke  en  thia 
Subject.  What  has  since  happened?  01  can  it  be  that  my  noblo 
father  has  imposed  dishonorable  conditions,  and  that  you  have  been 
weak  enough  to  comply  with  them?  0  !  Douglas!  Is  my  love  fated 
to  destroy  the  very  qualities  that  engaged  it?" 

"Dear  Delia,"  said  Douglas,  "I  understand  you  now.  Your  beau- 
tiful indignation  reminds  mc  that  you  do  not  know  what  has  passed." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  73 

"  What  can  liave  passed  ?"  asked  she,  with  earnest  and  reproachful 
sad'  ess.  "All  the  eloquence  and  address  of  Mr.  B — himself  could 
not  nave  convinced  your  unhiasscd  mind  in  two  hours'  cofiversation.  I 
km  ,v  his  power.  I  know  the  wonders  he  has  wrought,  and  I  trembled 
wl:  n  I  heard  the  watchword,  "  coffee  and  privacy."  I  feared  your 
love  for  me  might  be  used  to  sway  your  judgment,  and  hoped  to  have 
found  an  opportunity  to  invoke  it  for  the  worthier  purpose  of  guarding 
your  honor.  I  did  not  dream  that,  when  I  rose  so  early  this  morning, 
I  was  already  too  late." 

''Sweet  youth,  I  pray  you  chide  a  year  together," 

said  Douglas,  playfully.     "Your  indignation  is  so   eloquent,  that,  cruel 
as  it  is,  I  would  not  interrupt  you  to  undeceive  you.     Your  father  and 
Mr.  B —  have  made  no  attack  on  my  opinions  or  allegiance,  and  what* 
was  done  last  night  you  have  had  no  agency  in,  since  our  party  at  the 
falls.     It  all  originated  there."  ' 

He  now  gave  her  the  full  history  of  the  affair,  and  succeeded  in  con- 
vincing her  that  his  standard  of  honor  was  even  higher  than  she 
had  imagined.  If  she  requited  him  for  her  unjust  suspicions  with 
a  kiss,  he  never  told  of  it.  Perhaps  she  did;  for  although,  according 
to  the  refinements  of  the  Yankees,  kissing  was  in  very  bad  taste,  yet  the 
Northern  regime  had  not  reached  the  banks  of  the  Roanoke.  The 
ladies  there  continued  still  to  walk  in  the  steps  of  their  chaste  mothers, 
safe  in  that  high  sense  of  honor  which  protects  at  once  from  pollution 
and  suspicion. 

It  is  true,  that  when  a  people  become  corrupt,  they  must  learn  to  be 
fastidious,  and*  invent  safeguards  to  prevent  vice,  and  blinds  to  conceal 
it  when  it  is  to  be  indulged/  Duennas  are  necessary  in  Spain.  They 
arc  at  once  the  guarantee  of  a  lady's  honor,  and  the  safe  instruments 
of  her  pleasures.  Black  eunuchs  perform  the  same  functions  in  Tur- 
key. In  the  Norther^  factories  boys  and  girls  are  not  permitted  to 
work  together.  In  their  churches,  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  do  not 
sit  in  the  same  pew.  What  a  pitch  of  refinement !  Sterne's  story  of 
the  Abbe  in  the  theatre  at  Paris  affords  the  only  parallel. 

Thank  (Hod!  the  frame  of  our  society  has  kept  us  free  from  th? 
cause  and  its  consequences.  Whatever  corruption  there  may  be  among 
us  is  restrained  to  a  particular  class,  instead  of  diffusing  itself  by  con- 
tinuous contact  through  all  grades  and  ranks.  If  it  were  true,  as  the 
wise  anil  eloquent,  and  pious,  and  liirirvolent,  and  discreet  Dr.  Chan- 
ning  had  said,  some  ffftecn  years  before,  that  below  a  certain  line  all 
was  corrupt,  it  was  equally  true  that  above  it  all  was  pure.  Nature 
had  marked  the  line,  and  established  there  a  boundary  which  the  gan- 
grene of  the  social  body  eould  never  pass. 


74  THE    PARTISAN    LRA1 


CHAPTBB    XV. 

Mammon,  the  leaat  erected  spirit,  that  fell 

.  heaven,  for  e'en  in  h>  av'n  lii>  looks  and  thoughts 
Were  alwaya  downward  bent,  ndmiring 
Tha  rtchea  of  heav'n'i  pavement,  trodden  gold, 
Than  <>n^ li t  divine  or  holy  else  enjoyed 
In  viMiin  beatifie. 

Milt.  s. 

OS  the  evening  of  the  third  day  from    that   of  which    I  have  just 
been  Bpeaking,  the  President  of  the  United  States  was  sitting  alone  in 

B  small  room  in  his  palace,  which,  in  conformity  to  the  nomenclature  of 
foreign  courts,  it  had  become  the  fashion  to  call  his  closet.  The  fur- 
niture of  this  little  a]>ur(m<  nt  was  characterized  at  00 Ce  by  neat:. 
taste,  and  convenience.  Without  being  splendid,  it  was  rich  and 
costly;  and,  in  its  structure  and  arrangement,  adapted  to  the  use  of  a 
man,  who,  devoted  to  business,  yet  loved  his  ease.  The  weariness  ot 
sedentary  application  was  relieved  by  the  most  tasteful  and  eommodi- 
our  variety  of  chairs,  couches,  and  sofas,  while  the  utmost  ingenuity 
was  displayed  in  the  construction  of  desks,  fables,  and  other  e-nveni- 
i  noefl  for  reading  and  writing.  In  the  appearance  of  the  distinguished 
personage,  to  whose  privacy  I  have  introduced  the  reader,  there  was  a 
mixture  of  thought  and  carelessnesi  veiy  much  in  character  with  the 
implement!  of  husiness  and  the  applianccs*for  case  and  comfort  which 
surrounded  him.  lie  occasionally  looked  at  his  watch,  and  at  the  door, 
with  the  countenance  of  one  who  expects  a  visiter;  and  then  throwing 
himself  sgainst  tin  arm  of  his  sofa,  resumed  his  disengaged  air.    That 

something  was  on  his  mind  was  apparent.  But,  interesting  as  the  sub- 
might  be,  it  did  not  seem  to  touch  him  nearly.  His  whole  man- 
ner was  that  of  a  man  who  is  somewhat  at  a  loss  to  know  what  may  In- 
best  for  others,  but  Gnd9  full  consolation  in  knowing  precisely  what  is 
best  for  himself 

hi  the  .  \.  ni  of  the  last  ten  years  make  it  probable  that  none  of 
my  younger  renders  have  ever  seen  the  august  dignitary  of  whom  I 
;. ,  and  a-  l.w  of  us  are  like  to  have  occasion  to  sec  him  in  future, 
a  j  articular  description  of  his  person  may  not  be  unacceptable.  Though 
far  advanced  in  life,  he  was  tastily  and  even  daintily  dressed,  his  whole 
costume  being  exactly  adapted  to   a  diminutive  and   dapper   person,  a 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  75 

fair  complexion,  a  light  and  brilliant  blue  eye,  and  a  head  which  might 
have  formed  a  stu  ly  for  the  phrenologist,  whether  wc  consider  its  ample 
developments  or  its  egg-like  baldness.  The  place  of  hair  was  supplied 
by  powder,  which  his  illustrious  example  had  again  made  fashionable. 
The  revolution  in  public  sentiment  which  commenced  sixty  years  ago> 
had  abolished  nil  the  privileges  of  rank  and  age;  which  trained  up  the 
young  to  mock  at  the  infirmities  of  their  fathers,  and  encouraged  the 
unwashed  artificer  to  elbow  the  duke  from  his  place  of  precedence; 
this  revolution  had  now  completed  its  cycle.  While  the  sovereignty  of 
numbers  was  acknowledged,  the  convenience  of  the  multitude  had  set 
the  fashions.  But  the  reign  of  an  individual  had  been  restored,  and 
the  taste  of  that  individual  gave  law  to  the  general  taste.  Had  he 
worn  a  wig,  wigs  would  have  been  the  rage.  But  as  phrenology  had 
taught  him  to  be  justly  proud  of  his  high  and  polished  forehead,  and 
the  intellectual  developments  of  the  whole  cranium,  he  eschewed  hair 
in  all  its  fonfis,  and  barely  screened  his  naked  crown  from  the  air  with 
a  light  covering  of  powder.  He  seemed,  too,  not  wholly  unconscious 
of  something  worthy  of  admiration  in  a  foot,  the  beauty  of  which  was 
displayed  to  the  best  advantage  by  the  tight  fit  and  high  finish  of  his 
delicate  slipper.  As  he  lay  back  on  #he  sofa,  his  eye  rested  compla- 
cently on  this  member,  which  was  stretched  out  before  him,  its  position 
shifting  as  if  unconsciously,  into  every  variety  of  grace.  Returning 
from  thence,  his  glance  rested  on  his  hand,  fair,  delicate,  small,  and 
richly  jewelled.  It  hung  carelessly  on  the  arm  of  the  sofa,  and  the 
fingers  of  this,  too,  as  if  rather  from  instinct  than  volition,  performed 
sundry  evolutions  on  which  the  eye  of  majesty  dwelt  with  gentle  com- 
placency. 

Tills  complacent  reverie  was  frequently  broken  by  the  sound  of  the 
door-bell.  At  such  moments,  the  President  would  raise  his  head  with 
a  look  of  awakened  expectation,  which  subsided  instantly;  until,  by 
frequent  repetition,  it  called  up  some  expression  of  displeased  im- 
patience. At  last,  the  sound  was  echoed  by  a  single  stroke,  which  rung 
from  what  looked  like  a  clock  within  the  room.  He  immediately  sat 
erect,  assuming  an  air  of  dignified  and  complacent  composure,  suited 
to  the  reception  of  a  respected  visiter. 

The  door  opened,  and  the  gentleman  in  waiting  bowed  into  the  room 
a  person  who  well  deserves  a  particular  description,  and  then  with- 
drew. 

The  individual  thus  introduced  wu  a  gentleman  whose  age  could  not 
inuch  short  of  seventy.     In    person   he   had    probably  been  once 
nearly  six  feet  high,  but  time  had  at  once  crushed  and  bowed  him  I 
much  shorter  stature.      Indeed,  the   itoOp  jf  his  ihoulders,  the  prntru- 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADKK. 

i-i-m  of  the  oeek,  and  the  projecting  of  the  chin,  made  to- 

■tiliar   complex   curvature  which   brioga   the  top  of  the 

caotly  against  the  top  of  the.  head.    The  expression 

ontenance  was,  at  once,  fawning  and  oonseqnentiaL     His  t 

tween  round  and  square.     It  was  1 

short*  ned  by  1 1 i « ■  Ipsa  of  hie  teeth.     The  muscular  fullness  of  youth  had 

not  I"  I  D  n  placed  DJ  any  accession  of  fat.   nOT  had  the  skin  of  his  face 
•:k.  as  it  i  .  on   Cue   retiring. flesh.     The  consequence  was, 

thai  his  cheeks  hung  down  in  loose  pouches,  and  all  his  features, 
Originally  small  and  mean,  seemed  involved  in  the  folds  of  his  shrivel- 
led and  puckered  skin.  His  voice  wss  harsh  and  grating,  and  the 
more  so  from  an  attempl  at  Buavitj  in  the  tones,  which  produced  noth- 
ing more  than  a  drawling  prolongation  of  each  word.  Thus,  though 
-lowly,  the  stream  of  sound  flowed  continually  from  his  lips, 
reminding  the  hearer  of  the  never-ending  chant  of  the  locust. 

be  President  r  full y  advanced  .to  welcome  him,  he 

shuffled  forward  as  if  wishing  to  \  n  rent  the  honor  thus  done  him, 
while  the  increased  curve  of  his  hack  and  the  eager  humility  of  his 
upturned  countenance,  betokened  rtie  prostration  of  his  spirit  in  the 
nee  of  the  dispenser  of  hpnor  and  i  it     Having  1   wed 

himself  on  the  hand  which  had  been  graciously  extended  to  him,  he 
remi  riding  in  the  flour  bs  if  unmindful  of  repeated  invitations 

to  be  seated.  The  President  had  not  yet  bo  entirely  forgotten  the 
manners  which  one,-  distinguished  him  a>  a  most  accomplished  gentle- 
man, and  WSJ  not  at  first  aware  of  the  necessity  of  seating  himself  be- 
fore his  deferential  guest  At  length,  he  resumed  his  place  on  the 
.-■.fa.  and  th(  r,  with  d  new  prostration,  which  seemed  to  apolo- 

gize for  sitting  in  1  majesty,  ''■  ll<  wed  his  example.     He 

did  I  hare  the  sofa,  though  invited  to  do  so,  hut 

took  his  place  on  a  seat  equally  luxurious  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
fire-place.     But  the  luxury  ol  the  chaiu  tongue  was  lost  on  him.    He 

felt  that  to  lean  againsl  the   hack   or   arm   Would   he  quite  unbecoming, 

and  arly  erect  as  he  could,  in  that  precise  posture  which  indi- 

cates a  readiness  to  spring  to  the  feet  and  do  the  bidding  of  a  superior. 
••  I  had  begun  to  despair  of  >U   this  evening,  my  dear  sir," 

I '  i.  -id-iit.  in  a    tune    at    once    kind  and    reproachful.      "  I  had 
given  olden  that  I  Bhould  he  denied  to  all  but  you." 

"  x*ou  do  me  great  and  undeserved  honor,"  replied  the  other,  "but 
I " 

"  I  wished  t"  speak  to  yon  in  private,"  continued  Mr.  Van  l?uren, 
not  noticing  the  interruption,  " of  a  matter  which  deeply  interests  us 
both.     Here  is  a  letter  which  I  received  this  morning,  which  makes  it 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  77 

at  least  doubtful  whether  the  last  step  which  I  took  in  regard  to  that 
young  man,  Trevor,  is  quite  such  as  should  have  been  taken." 

He  then  took  from  a  bundle  of  papers,  one  which  he  read  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Sir:  I  have  just  learned  that  charges  of  a  serious  nature  have 
been  made  against  Lieutenant  Trevor,  which,  it  seems,  grow  out  of 
certain  occurrences  to  which  I  am  privy.  I  can  have  little  doubt  that 
the  affair,  to  which  I  allude,  has  not  been  truly  reported  to  you.  Had 
it  been,  you  would  have  seen  that  Lieutenant  T.  acted  no  otherwise 
than  as  became  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman,  in  whose  presence,  a  lady,  under 
his  protection,  had  been  insulted.  The  enclosed  documents,  to  the  au- 
thenticity of  which  I  beg  leave  to  testify,  will  place  the  transaction  in 
its  true  light.  Were  Lieutenant  T.  at  Washington,  I  should  not  lay 
these  papers  before  you  without  authority  from  him.  As  it  is,  I  trust 
I  do  no  more  than  my  duty  by  him,  and  by  your  Excellency,  in  fur- 
nishing such  evidences  of  the  real  facts  of  the  case,  as  may  aid  you  in 
deciding  on  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  regard  to  it. 

"It  maybe  proper  to  add,  that,  having  acted  as  Lieutenant  T.'s 
friend  on  the  occasion,  these  documents  were  left  in  my  possession  in 
that  character.  It  is  this  same  character,  in  which  I  feel  it  especially 
my  duty  to  step  forward  as  the  guardian  of  his  honor  and  interests. 

"  Hoping  that  your  Excellency  will  excuse  the  freedom  which  calls 
your  notice  to  so  humble  a  name, 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Your  Excellency's  most  obedient, 
"  Humble  servant, 

"  Edgar  Whiting, 
"Lieut,  \2thhf.  U.  s.  a:' 

Having  read  this  letter  aloud,  the  President,  without  comment, 
placed  in  the  hands  of  his  guest  a  bundle  of  papers.  It  is  only  neces- 
sary to  tell  the  reader  that  they  were  copies  of  the  same  documents 
which  Douglas  had  laid  before  his  father  and  uncle,  each  one  duly 
authenticated  by  the  attestation  of  Lieutenant  Whiting. 

Mr.  Van  ISuren  now  threw  himself  back  upon  the  sofa,  and  fixed  his 
eye  on  the  face  of  his  companion  with  an  expression  which  betokened 
some  concern,  not  unmixed  with  a  llight  enjoyment  of  the  perplexity 
with  which  the  purblind  old  man  pored  over  the  papers,  [ndeed,  his 
uncasiness  could  hardly  have  escaped  the  observation  of  a  casual  spec- 
tator. He  shifted  his  scat;  he  read;  then  wiped  his  spectacles,  and 
read  again ;  then   wiped   his  brow;  and   having  gone  through  all  the 


7V  THi  -  \N    LEADER. 

k  them  up  in  ord(  r,  and  read  them  all  over 
■'..  be  bad  extracted  all  tli<ir  substance,  he  turned  oi 
rplexed  ami  anxious  look,  and  remained  silent 

length*  the   latter   Bpoke.      "I    fear   «re   liavo   made   an   nnlnckj 
blander  ia  this  business,  my  dear  air,"  paid  he. 

"  I  fear  so  too,  sir,"  said  the  other.  "But  I  beg  leave  to  a.«sur 
your  Excellency  that  the  information  T  took  the  liberty  bo  communi- 
Ante  was  a  simple  and  exact  statement  <>f  what  I  learned  from  my  sou, 
which,  1  trust,  your  Excellency  will  see  is  in  nowise  contravened  by 
1.  cumenta.  I  certainly  was  not  apprised  "f  the  provocation 
.  it  is  b<  re  said,  was  "fiend  to  a  lady  under  Lieutenant  Tr.  vor*i 
protection." 

"  Make  yourself  perfectly  easy  on  that  head,  my  d< sar  sir,"  said  th'N 
:.:  ••  I  give  myself  small  concern  on  Lieutenant  I 
conpt  My  obligations  to  his  father  are  more  than  discharged  by  the 
rapid  advancement  of  his  elder  brother ;  and  he  can  have  no  right  to 
complain  that  proceedings  have  been  instituted  to  inquire  into  a  matter 
which,  even  thus  explained,  places  his  loyalty  in  DO  very  favorable 
light.  My  concern  is.  lest  the  prosecution  of  this  investigation  should 
lead  U)  results;  undesirable  to  you." 

'•I  understand  your  Excellency,"  replied  the  honorab'e  Mr.  Baker 
K  The  object  of  this  communication  is  to  convey  a  covert  intimation 
that,  if  proceedings  against  Lieutenant  Trevor  are  not  staid,  he  will 
revenge  himself  by  endeavoring  t<>  dishonor  my  son.  I  never  brought 
him  up  to  be  the  'butcher  of  a  silk  button, '  and  don't  wonder  that  his 
notions  of  galantry,  &o.  &c,  do  not  exactly  square  with  those  of  the* 

],,->  n.r  cht  rn/irrs." 

"That  view  of  the  subject  is-  doubtless  quite  philosophical,"  said  the 
President;  ''and  if  you  regard  it  in  that  light,  it  will  remove  ull  diffi- 
culty OUt  of  the  way." 

••  1  cannol  exactly  say,"  replied  the  other,  "  that  1  should  be  quite 
willing  to  expose  my  sun  to  the  pain  of  seeing  thi  se  documents  made 

public;   COnCOCted,    as   they   manifestly   have    been,  by    men    who    have 

learned  to  quarrel  by  the  book,  and  contrived  on  purpose  to  shut  the 
door  against  enquiry.  1  dare  say  be  would  hardly  have  made  the  com- 
munication 1  received,  could  he  have  anticipated  the  step  which  I 
deemed  it  my  duty  to  your  Excellency  to  take  in  consequence  of  it." 

11  The  misfortune  is,"  replied  the  President,  "that  1  have  already 
caused  an  intimation  to  be  given  to  Lieutenant  Trevor  that  it  maybe 
i  a  court  martial,  unless  he  thinks  proper  to  demand  a 
court  of  enquiry.     Either  way,  the  whole  affair  must  come  out." 

"  [s  there  HO  Other  alternative?"  asked  the  anxious  father.    "Could 


THE  PARTISAN   LEAZ>EK.  79 

not  these  papers  be  suppressed?  There  is  no  other  authcnic  evidence 
of  the  facts." 

"  Unfortunately,"  said  the  President,  to  whom  habitual  intercourse 
with  the  base  had  made  the  feeling  of  contempt  so  familiar  that  he 
repressed  it  without  difficulty,  "  unfortunately  these  papers  aro  but 
copies.  The  originals  are  doubtless  in  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  "Whit- 
ing, whose  honor  cannot  be  questioned,  and  probably  they  would  be 
farther  verified  by  the  handwriting  of  your  son." 

"What  then  can  be  done?"  asked  the  honorable  Mr.  Baker,  in  a 
s"tate  of  unutterable  perplexity  Receiving  no  answer,  he  sat  musing, 
with  the  restless  and  fidgeting  air  of  a  man  who  seeks  in  vain  for  some 
starting  point  for  his  thoughts.  He  was  at  length  roused  from  his 
reverie  by  two  strokes  of  the  bell,  which  issued  from  the  clock-case  at 
the  President's  back.  The  signal  was  answered  by  the  touch  of  a 
hand-bell,  which  stood  on  a  table  near  him.  The  door  opened.  The 
gentleman  in  waiting  entered,  advanced  to  the  table,  laid  a  packet  of 
letters  before  the  President,  and  withdrew  in  silence. 

He  took  them  up,  shuffled  them  through  his  hands  as  a  whist  player 
runs  over  his  cards,  and  having  fixed  his  eye  on  one,  took  it  out  of  the 
parcel,  and  threw  the  rest  on  the  table.  *His  companion  having  in  the 
mean  time  relapsed  into  unconscious  reverie,  he  opened  this,  and  ran 
his  eye  over  the  contents. 

"Here  is  good  news  for  us,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he.  "Lieutenant 
Trevor  here  tenders  his  resignation,  which,  perhaps,  may  put  an  end 
to  the  difficulty." 

"  Perhaps!"  exclaimed  the  other,  eagerly.  "  There  can  be  no  doubt 
about  it,  I  hope." 

"  None  at  all ;  if  his  accounts  are  all  adjusted,  of  which  I  have 
little  doubt.  But  it  is  not  customary  to  let  go  our  -hold  on  an  officer 
by  accepting  his  resignation,  until  that  matter  has  been  enquired  into." 

"  It  will  be  a  great  relief  to  me,"  faltered  out  Mr.  Baker,  looking  at 
the  President  with  an  anxious  and  imploring  countenance — 

"To  have  this  explained  at  once,"  said  Mr.  Van  Buren,  interrupting 
him.     "  You  shall  be  gratified,  my  dear  sir." 

The  hand-bell  was  again  sounded.  The  gentleman  in  waiting  re-ap- 
peared; a  few  words  were  spoken  to  him  in  a  low  tone,  and  he  again 
withdrew. 


v<'  THi:    PARTISAN*    DEADER. 


CH AFTER    XVI 


His  thoughts  w 


To  vice  industrious,  but  to  nohlc  deeds 
TimoroiM  and  slothful. 

Milton. 

"  There  is  something  in  this  business,"'  said  the  President,  after  a 
silence  of  a  few  minutes,  '•  which  I  uo  not  well  understand.  1  was  not 
prepared  to  find  Lieutenant  Trevor  so  ready  to  resign,  and  still  less  to 
receive  his  letter  of  resignation  through  the  hands  of  his  father,  with- 
out < >iie  word  of  expostulation  to  bis  sun,  or  to  me.  lie  does  not  even 
intimate  any  the  least  regret  at  the  avent.      What  can  this  mean?" 

"It  does  not  at  all  surprise  me,"  said  Mr.  Baker.  "Hugh  Trevor 
was  always  a  visionary  and  uncertain  man  ;  and  his  intluenee  over  his 
sons  is  Buoh,  that  I  should  consider  the  manifest  defection  of  Lieuten- 
ant Trevor  as  a  sure  proof  of  the  estrangement  of  the  fat  I. 

"  I  thought^"  said  the  President,  u  thai  be  had  been  always  remark- 

able  for  his  steadiness  and  fidelity.*' 

"  In  one  sense  "lie  is  so,"  replied  Baker.  "But  his  steadiness  is  of 
the  wrong  S'irt.  He  is  one  "I  those  men  who  professes  to  be  governed, 
and,  I  dare  say.  il  governed  hy  principles.  But  his  principles  are  so 
numerous,  and  so  hedge  him  around  and  beset  him  on  every  side,  that 
they  have  kept  him  standing  still  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  When 
he  mores,  it  would  take  an  expert  mathematician  to  calculate  the  result 

of  all  the  compound  forct  s  which  act  upon  him,  and   to  decide  Certain- 
ly what  course  he  might  take." 
••  How  happens  it,  then,"  asked  the  President,  "that  I  have  always 

found  him  so  loyal  and  faithful  in  his  devotion  to  roef 

••  Because  he  Identified  your  Excellency  in  his  own  mind  with  the 
Qnion,  to  which  he  determined  to  sacrifice  every  thing  else,  lint  now 
thai  disunion  has  come,  and  the  question  '■-'  whether  Virginia  shall  ad- 
here to  the  North  or  join  the  South,  he  has  a  new  problem  to  work, 
and  how  he  may  work  it,  no  man  can  anticipate.  Hence  1  Boy  he  is 
uncertain." 

"  But  docs  he  think  nothing  of  the  advancement  of  his  family?" 
"It  seems  uot,  in  this  instance.     That  is  what  I  meant  when  I  said 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  81 

that  his  principles  'were  too  many.  Your  Excellency  knows,"  contin- 
ued the  honorable  gentleman,  with  a  contortion  of  the  mouth  meant  for 
a  smile,  and  which,  but  for  the  loss  of  his  teeth,  might  have  produced 
a  grin,  "  that  the  cardinal  number  of  standard  principles  is  the  only  one 
which  can  be  counted  on." 

"Have  you  then  any  information,"  asked  the  President,  "which 
leads  you  to  suspect  him  of  disaffection  ?" 

"None'/'  replied  Baker;  "I  do  but  speak  from  my  knowledge  of 
the  man.  I  do  not  think  him  capable  of  that  gratitude  for  the  many 
favors  he  and  his  family  have  received  which  should  bind  hioi  indisso- 
lubly  to  your  Excellency's  service." 

"  It  is  well,  at  least,"  said  the  President,  "  that  one  of  his  sons,  on 
whom  most  of  those  favors  have  been  lavished,  is  made  of  different 
materials.  The  principles  of  Colonel  Trevor  are  exactly  of  the  right 
sort;  or,  as  you  would  say,  my  dear  sir,  they  are  of  just  the  right  num- 
ber. Could  I  obtain  any  information  of  the  father's  movements,  which 
might  give  me  just  cause  to  doubt  him,  I  would  take  occasion  to  show 
the  difference  I  make  between  the  faithful  and  the  unstable.  I  would 
refuse  to  receive  this  young  man's  resignation,  and  order  a  court-mar- 
tial immediately.  I  mistake  if  the  father  would  not  be  glad  to  extri- 
cate him  from  the  difficulty,  by  renouncing  some  of  these  fantastic  no- 
tions which  he  dignifies  with  the  name  of  principles." 

"  I  beseech  your  Excellency,"  said  Baker,  forgetting  his  envious 
spleen  against  the  virtuous  and  upright  friend  of  his  early  youth,  in  his 
alarm  at  the  mention  of  the  court-martial,  "  I  beseech  your  Excellency 
not  to  understand  me  as  preferring  any  charge  against  Mr.  Hugh  Trevor, 
lie  is  an  excellent  man,  who  well  deserves  all  the  favors  he  has  re- 
ceived, ai,d  will,  doubtless,  merit  many  more.  I  pray  that  what  I  have 
said  may  not  at  all  influence  you  to  any  harsh  measures  against  him  or 
his." 

The  tact  of  the  President  at  once  detected  the  revulsion  of  Baker's 
feelings,  and  the  cause.  Indeed,  he  well  knew  both  the  nun.  Uc  was 
aware  that  all  that  had  been  said  of  Mr.  Trevor  was  essentially  true. 
He  had,  therefore,  the  more  highly  prized  his  friendship,  as  one  of  the 
brighte-t  jewels  in  his  crown.*  lie  had  taught  his  advocates  and  min- 
ions to  point  to  him  as  one,  whose  support  it  was  known  would  not  be 
given  to  any  man  but  from  a  sense  of  duty.     He  was  himself  not  so 

.1  to  virtue  as  not  to  reaped  it  in  another;  and  his  favorui 
fitions  toward  Mr.  Trevor,  and  tit*-  1>  I  on  his  family,  liad 

mora  of  respect  ai  le  than  commonly  miogled  in  ha 

or  actions.    Of  Baker,  he  had  rightly  formed  a  differed!  •  He 

found  him  in  the  shambles,  ai.d  had  bought  and  u.-td  him.      ] 

6 


THK    PARTISAN    I.KAHER. 

[r.  Tr<  ror  appeared  only  ta  one,  in  whose  lif.  daily 

t  Ii.it  made  his  ugly  ;"  and  be  had  Been,  with  malignant  envy, 
on  and  emoluments  for  which  he  Jiad  toiled  through  all  the 
i  _v  of  d  partisan,  freely  bestowed  on  (he  unasking  and  unpre- 

tending merit  of  a  rival.     Gladly  would  he  bave  improved  the  distrust, 
which  he  saw  liad  entered  into  the  mind  of  the   President,  had  !).•  not 
1  that  the  fir.-t  elf.  et  of  it  might  he  to  press  an  enquiry 
which  must  eventuate  in  the  irreparable  dishonor  of  his  own  son. 

While  lie  sat  meditating  on  these  things',  and  subduing  his  malice  to 
i        its  and  bis  interest,  the 'door-bell  sourfdedj  tl  trcki  from 

lmed  the  sound  ;   the  door  op<  lied,  and  a  new  charaoU  r 

aj  |  •  an  <\  on  the  stage. 

BTSOB  whose  name  appears  in  this  history  better  deserve-  a  par- 
ticular description  than  he  who  now  entered.  Fortunately,  I  am  saved 
J  ty  of  going  into  it,  by  having  it  in  power  to  refer  the  reader 

to  a  most  graphic  delineation  of  his  exact  prototype  in  person,  mind 
manners,  and  principles. 

In  Oliver  Dain,  or  Oliver  le  Diable,  as  he  was  called,  the  favorite 
instrument  of  the  crimes  of  that  remorseless  tyrant  Louifl  IX..  he  had 
found  his  great  exemplar.  The  picture  of  that  worthy,  as  drawn  by 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  Quentin  Hurward,  is  the  most  exact  likeni  u  of  one 
man  ever  taken  for  another.  It  is  not  even  worth  while  to  ohange  the 
costume  ;  for  although  he  did  not  appear  with  a  barber'.-  apron  girded 
around  his  waist,  antl  the  basin  in  his  hands,  it  was  impossible  to  look 
upon  him  without  seeing  that  his  undoubted  talents,  and  the  high  sta- 
tions he  had  filled,  still  left  him  fit  to  bo  employed  in  the  most  abject 
and  menial  services. 

This  happy  compound  of  meanness,  malignity,  treachery,  and  talent, 
was  welcomed  by  the  President  With   B   nod   and  smile  at  once  careless 
racious.      At   the   light   of  him,   Mr.    Baker   made    haste   to  rise, 
and  bustled  forward    to   meet    and   salute   him  with  an  air,  in  which,  if 
tl  was  less  of  servility,    there    was    more   of  the  cam-mess  of  adula- 

ti-  n  than  he  had  displayed  toward  the  President  himself.      The  earnest 

enquiries  of  Mr.  Baker  after  his  health,  &o.,  ,\c,  were  answered  with 
the  fawning  air  of  one  who   feels   himself  much  obliged  by  the  notice 

iperior,  and  he  then  turned  to  the  President  as  if  waiting  his 
commands.    These  were  communicated  by  putting  into  his  hands  the 

of  Mr.  Qugh  Trevor  and  his  son,  which  ho  was  requested  to 

read. 

While  he  read,  the  President,  turning  to  Mr.  Baker,  said — "While 
I  thought  of  ordering  a  court-martial  on  the  cose  of -Lieutenant  Trevor, 

I  deemed  it  advisable  to  have   all  his  military  transactions  looked  into, 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  .        83 

intending,  if  any  thing  were  amiss,  to  make  it  tlic  subject  of  a  distinct 
charge."  Then,  turning  to  the  other,  he  added — "  You  have,  I  pre- 
sume, acquainted  yourself  with  the  state  of  the  young  man's  ac- 
counts." 

"  I  have,  sir,". was  the  reply.  "  They  hive  been  all  settled  punctu- 
ally." 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  the  acceptance  of  his  resigna- 
tion ?" 

••  Nothing  of  that  sort,  certainly,  sir.  But  has  your  Excellency  ob- 
served the  date  of  this  letter  of  his  ?  You  may  sec  that  he  does  not 
date  fiom  his  father's  house.  I  happen  to  know  this  place,  Truro,  to 
be  the  residence  of  that  pestilent  traitor,  his  uncle.  Now,  if  the  charge 
be  well  founded,  I  submit  to  your  Excellency  whether  the  offender 
should  be  permitted  to  escape  prosecution  by  resigning.  If  it  be  not 
exactly  capable  of  being. substantiated,  yet  his  readiness  to  resign  on  so 
slight  an  intimation  renders  his  disaffection  at  least  probable,  and  his 
date  renders  it  nearly  certain.  Might  it  not  be  then  advisable  to  re- 
tain the  hold  we  have  upon  him  ?  The  court-martial  being  once  or- 
dered, additional  charges  might  be  preferred ;  and  I  much  mistake  the 
temper  of  the  country  where  he  is,  if  he  does  not  furnish  matter  for 
additional  charges  before  the  month  of  April  passes  by." 

u  Why  the  month  of  April?"  asked  the  President. 

"  Because  then  the  elections  come  on  ;  and  there  is  little  doubt  that 
exertions  will  be  made  to  obtain  a  majority  in  the  Legislature  of  men 
disposed  to  secede,  and  join  the  Southern  Confederacy.  In  that  coun- 
ty, in  particular,  I  am  well  advised  that  such  exertions  will  be  made. 
A  hen-hearted  fellow  has  been  put  forward  as  the  candidate  of  the 
malcontents,  who  can  be  easily  driven  from  the  canvass  by  his  personal 
fears.  Let  the  affair  once  take  that  shape,  and  immediately  the  fantas- 
tic notions  of  what  Southern  men  call  chivalry,  wliich  infest  the  brain 
of  this  old  drawcansir,  will  push  him  forward  ofl  a  candidate.  I  had 
made  some  arrangements  which,  with  your  Excellency'!  approbation,  1 
had  proposed  te  carry  into  effect  tor  accomplishing  this  result,  in  the 
hope  of  bringing  him  into  collision   with  the  law  of  sad  so 

getting  rid  at  once  of  a  dangcrou-  .  aemy  Now,  if  the-  yooag  loan'? 
lation  be  rejected,  and  a  court-martial  \n  the  part  he  mil 

act  in  the  affair  can  hardly  fail  to  be  such  as  to  male  bis  a  ball-cart- 
ridge case." 

••  Vour  plan  is  exceedingly  well  aimed/'  said  the  President,  "but  on 
farther  reflection,  mj  good  friend  Mr.  Baker  il  led  by  feelings  of  deli- 
cacy to  wish  to  withdraw  bis  eh  ;_  •  I  am  loth  to  deny  any  tbing  to 
one  who  merits  so  much  at  my  bands,  but  still   then  are  difficulties  in 


THE    PABTI8AH    L1AMB. 

the  WBj  which  will  DOl  |  that  course.      Tie  nee 

ition  will  effectually  remove  them,  and  indirectly 
Mr.  Baker.      Now,  what  do  you  ail \ 
In  the  act  of  at  th    P     ideal  shifted 'his  position 

so  suddenly  as  to  call  the  minion's  attention  to  the  motion.     Hi-  look 
up  ami  nw  hu  •  ■!  from  Mr.  Baker,  ami  thought 

.  there  an  intimation  that  he  should   press  hi-  former  objection. 
This  he  therefore  did,  expressing  his  reluctance  to  give  advice  unfavor- 
able to  th'-  wishes  of  one  BO  much  respected    as    Mr.  lkkcr,  and  highly 
limeatiog  the  delicacy  of  his  scruples. 

"  Hut.  mi  '..Itl.'  President,  "we  |  age  of  the 

law  authorizing  a  court  to  .-it  here   for  the  trial,  hy  a  jury  of  this  1 1 
trict,  of  often  mitted   in   Virginia.     In  that  ease,  should  our 

young  eock  crow  too  loud,  wc  might  find  means  to  cut  his  comb  without 
a  court-martial." 

"  That  Congress  will  pass   mob    a   law   cannot  be  doubted,"  said 
the  other,  ''were  it  not  vain    to  do  so,  when  it  Beems  to  he  under.-- 
that  none  of  the  judges  would  be  willing  to  execute  it.      1    am  tin  I 

hearing  of  constitutional  sorq 

'•  1  am  bound  '  them,"  replied  the  President,  meekly.    "  But 

1  really  do  uol  bcc  tin-  -rounds  for  them  in  such  a  ease  as  this.     I 

Baker.  I  know  it  is  against  rule  to  ask  a  judge's  opin- 
ion out  ol  court.  Bui  1  beg  you  to  enlighten  me  so  far  ai  to  explain 
to  me  what  arc  the  scruples  whiofa  the  bench  are  supposed  to  feci  on 
this  Bubject  I  make  the  enquiry,  because  1  am  anxious  to  accept  this 
young  fellow's  resignation,  if,  in  doing  BO,  I  shall  not  lose  the  means  of 
punishing  the  offences  which  there  is  too  muoh  reason  to  think  he 
li, .dilates.  Po  try  him  in  Virginia  would  be  vain.  Indeed,  I  doubt 
whether  your  court  could  sit  there  in  safety." 

"I  fear  ij  could  not,"  replied  the  Judge,  "  and  have  therefore  no 
difficulty  in  saying,  that  the,  ncee-ity  of  the  case  should  overrule  all 
Constitutional  scruples.  I  have  no  delicacy  in  answering  your  Excel- 
lence's question  out  of  court.  It  is  merely  an  enquiry,  which  1  hope 
Buous,  whether  I  would  do  my  duty.  1  trust  it  is  not  doubted. 
that  1  would;  and  should  1  be  lion.  p. 1  with  your  Kxccllency's  com- 
mands in  that  behalf,  I  should  hold  mys<  If  bound  te  execute  them. 
To  sp<  ik  more  precisely — should  the  court  be  established,  and  I  ap- 
pointed to  preside  in  it,  1  should  cheerfully  do  so." 

••  That  then  removes  all  difficulty,"  said  the  President  "  The  young 
man's  resignation,  therefore,  will  he  accepted,  and  measures  must  be 
taken  to  distribute  troupe  through  the  disaffected  counties  in  such  num- 
bers as  may  either   control   the  display  of  the  malcontent  spirit  at  the 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  85 

polls,  or  invite  it  to  show  itself  in  such  a  shape  as  shall  bring  it  within 
the  scope  of  your  authority,  and  the  compass  of  a  halter." 

Some  desultory  conversation  now  arose  on  various  topics,  more  and 
more  remote  from  public -affairs.  On  these  Mr.  Baker  would  have  been 
glad  to  descant,  and  perhaps  to  hear  the  thoughts  of  the  President  and 
his  minister.  But  all  his  attempts  to  detain  them  from  talking  exclu- 
sively of  lighter  matters  were  effectually  baffled  by  the  address  of  the 
former.  All  this  was  so  managed  as  to  wear  out  the  evening,  without 
giving  the  gentleman  the  least  reason  to  suspect  that  he  was  in  the 
way,  or  that  the  great  men  who  had  seemed  to  admit  him  to  their  con- 
fidence, placed  themselves  under  the  least  constraint  in  his  presence 
At  length  he  took  his  leave. 


■sr>  THE    PABTISAU    I.: 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Thai  just  habitual  scorn,  wlncli  could  contemn 

Men  and  tln-ir  thoughts,  'twaa  a  ByHon. 

A-  the  door  closed  behind  him,  the  countenance  of  tin  President  r* 
int. i  a  Bmiie,  indicative  of  ureat  satisfaction  and  self-applause, 
along  with  an  uncontrollable  disposittoo  to  merriment.    Thesmil 
I  •■  a  qmel  langh,  which  increased  in  violence,  without  ever  be- 

coming loud,  until  he  lay  hack  against  the  arm  of  the  sofa,  and  covered 
his  face  with  his  handkerchief.  At  length  his  mirth  exhausted  it-elf. 
ami  he  sat  erect,  looking  at  the  Minister  with  the  countenance  of  die 
about  to  make  some  amusing  communication.  But  he  waited  t<>  be 
spoken  to,  and  remained  silent.  His  million  took  the  hint,  M 
dr.  ssing  hiii:.-  If  tn  what  ho  supposed  to  he  passing!  in  his  nia.-t.r'- 
mind,  Bsid  :  ■•  1  best  eeh  your  Excellency  to  tell  me  by  what  sleight,  by 
what  tour  <!•  main,  this  bard  knot  about  jurisdiction  has  been  made  to 

slip    as    easily  as  a  hangman's  nOOSS  ?      I  (eared  we  should  have  had  to 

cut  it  with  the  Bword,  and  behold  it  until ■-  itself." 

••  How  can  you  a-k  such  a  question?"  said  the  President,  with  mock 
gravity.    "  Did  yon  do)  hear  the  elaborate  and  lucid  argument  by 

which  the  Judge  ]  roved  incontestibly  that  it  could  not  be  unconstitu- 
tional to  do  his  duty  ''.  The  wonder  is  bow  they  ever  contrived  to  make  a 
difficulty.  Surely  none  who  Bhall  ever  hear  that  demonstration  can 
doubt  again." 

''  Hut  may  1  he  permitt.  d  tn  a^k  by  what  means  such  a  Hood  of  light 

ii  poured   qpon  his  mind?     But  yesterday  he  was  dark  as  the 
moon  in  Its  perihelion.     Baa  the  golden  ray  of  additional  favors  again 

can-,  d  its  face  to  shine  ':" 

"  No,"  .-aid  tie-  President. 
"  No  new  emoluments  to  him  or  his?" 
■■  None  at  all,"  was  the  laughing  answer. 
•■  \  i  new  bona 

••  None,  but  the  honor  of  doing  additions]  duty,  for  the  Grst  time  in 
his  life,  without  additional  compensation." 

"  In  the  name  Of  witchcraft,  then,  what  has  wrought  upon  him?" 
"That  1  shall  nol  tell  you,"  said  the  President,  still  laughing;  "that 
is  my  secret;  that   part  of  my  art  you  shall  never  know.     It  is  one  of 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  87 

'  the  jokes  that  a  man  enjoys  the  hetter  for  having  it  all  to  himself.  I 
keep  it  for  my  own  diversion.  It  is  a  sort  of  royal  game.  You,  I  am 
sure,  may  be  satisfied  with  your  share  in  the  sport,  having  been  ad- 
mitted to  hear  that  argument.  It  was  a  lesson  in  dialectics  worth  a 
course  at  a  German  university.  But  come  !  There  is  a  time  to  laugh, 
and  a  time  to  be  serious.  What  do  you  propose  on  the  subject  of  these 
Virginia  elections  ?" 

"  I  propose,"  said  the  Minister,  "  to  distribute  some  five  hundred 
men  in  certain  counties,  with  the  dispositions  of  which  I  have  made 
myself  acquainted,  to  preserve  order  at  the  elections,  as  we  should  say 
to  the  unitiated;  but  in  plain  English,  to  control  them.  They  will 
succeed  in  this,  or  provoke  violence.  Either  way,  we  carry  our  point. 
We  prevail  in  the  elections,  or  we  involve  the  members  elect  in  a  charge 
of  treason.  I  think  we  may  trust  Judge  Baker  for  the  rest.  The 
more  dangerous  of  our  enemies  will  thus  fall  under  the  edge  of  the 
law,  and  the  less  efficient,  if  not  left  in  a  minority,  will  be  powerless  for 
want  of  leaders." 

"But  the  scene  of  action,"  said  the  President,  "  is  close  to  the  line. 
The  offenders  may  escape  into  North  Carolina,  and  from  thence  kaep 
up  a  communication  with  their  friends.  They  may  even  venture  to 
Richmond  at  a  critical  moment,  and  effect  their  great  purpose,  or  they 
may  adjourn  to  some  place  of  greater  security." 

"  It  will  certainly  be  necessary,"  said  the  Minister,  "  to  guard  against 
that,  by  increasing  the  number  of  troops  at  the  seat  of  government. 
Besides,  if  we  can  but  get  one  day  to  ourselves,  their  chance  of  legis- 
lative action  may  be  broken  up  by  adjournment  sine  die." 

"Then,  with  so  many  points  in  the  game  in  our  favor,"  replied  the 
President,  "  we  have  but  to  play  it  boldly  and  we  must  win.  It  shall 
go  hard,  too,  if,  in  the  end,  we  do  not  make  this  superfluous  State  Le- 
gislature, this  absurd  relic  of  imperium  in  impcrio,  abolish  itself.  At 
all  events,  the  course  of  conduct  which  they  will  necessarily  pursue, 
must  sink  the  body  in  public  estimation,  and  dispose  the  people  to  "ac- 
quiesce in  the  union  of  all  power  in  the  hands  of  the  Central  (lovern- 
ment.  We  can  then  restore  them  all  the  benefits  of  real  and  efficient 
local  legislation,  by  erecting  these  degraded  sovereignties  into  what  they 

Jit  always   fo  1  D — municipal   corporations,  exercising  such 

powers  as  we  clwose  to  grant." 

Some  farther  conversation  ensued,  in  which  detaili  were  settled.     A 

minute  was  made  of  tie  whieh  troops  should  be  Stationed  ;  the 

number  of  men  to  be  plticed  :ii  each  :  and  the  corps  from  whicb  thej 
were  to  be  drawn.     It  was  left  to  the  Minister  to  fix  on  proper  1 1  i 
to  command  each    party,  and  to  devise   instructions  as  to  tl  be 


88  thi:  partisan  lkadkr. 

'•  was  propaood  simply  I  • 

by  the   men   preaenec   of  tW  military:-  itrol  then 

ial  or  threatened  i 
tumnlt  tanee   proi  I  dangerous  men  drawn  in  to 

■-  whieh  might  be  denounced  is  criminal.     Having  the 
iter's  vrill, 
j  for  eii  sting  it. 

"The  only  truly  vise  man  that  I  know  in  the  world,"  said  the  Presi- 
I  tier  him.     "'  The  only  one  who  know-  man  m  he  is ;  who 

.   human  virtue,  but  H  one  form  of  human  weak" 
ness.     In  li is  ci.  him  a  power  over  them  whieh  he  always 

how  to  use;  in  his  instruments,  lie  desires  Done  of  it  Why 
oaanot  I  profit  more  by  his  instruction  and  example?  Fool  that  I  am! 
I  will  try  to  practise  a  lesson." 

He  rung  the  bell,  and  directed  that  the  Minister  should  be  rtqa 
to  return. 

He  had  not  yet  left  the  palace,  and  soon  re-appeared.     As  he  entered, 
rh.'  President  said  :  "This young  Trevor — be  has  talent,  baa  he  not?" 
"Talent  of  every  kind,"  Baid  the  Minister. 

"  Thai  he  has  a  raperahundaiee  of  what  finds  call  honor  and  gal- 
lantry, I  happen  to  know.     I  suppose  hi     I  tj>cr  mrruef  are  in  propor- 

"  I  suspect  so,  from  the  example  of  the  father  and  all  I  can  learn  of 
the  sol 

a  you  then  doubt  of  his  ultimate  course,  r  even  that  <>f  his 
father?  Do  yon  doubt  that  if  th>-  standard  of  rebellion  is  once  raised, 
the  young  man  will  be  found  fighting  under  it,  with  the  old  man's  ap- 
probation ?" 

"Not  at  all.  I  know  no  man  who  would  raise  it  sooner  than  himself, 
after  he  has  had  time  to  be  thoroughly  indoctrinated  by  his  uncle." 

"  Then  the  sooner  the  better;  he  is  but  a  cockerel  yet.  What  if  he 
can  be  brought  to  commit  himself  before  his  spurs  have  acquired  their 
full  length  T 

'•  Nothing  could  be  more  judicious,  and  nothing  easier." 

■•  How  would  you  go  about  it '.'" 

■  Let  him  have  a  letter  neither  accepting  or  rejecting ;  intimating 
the  neeesaitj  of  farther  investigation  of  hie  accounts,  &c,  &o.,  before 
We  let  him  off,  and  requiring  him,  for  tho  convenience  of  farther  cor- 
respondence, to  remain  at  the  place  from  whence  his  letter  is  dated. 
Keep  him  fretted  in  this  way  until  the  election  is  near  at  hand,  and,  a 
day  or  two  before,  let  him  receive  a  letter  accepting  bis  resignation. 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  89 

My  life  upon  it,  he  will  spring  to  his  destruction  like  a  bow  when  the 
strin*  is  cut,  that  snaps  by  its  own  violence." 

"You  arc  right,"  said  the  President;  "  that  will  do.  Much  will  de- 
pend on  the  style  of  that  letter.  You  have  your  hands  too  full  to  be 
troubled  with  such  things,  or  I  should  ask  you  to  do  what  no  man  can  do 
so  well.  Put  you  have  your  pupils,  who  have  learned  of  you  to  say 
what  is  to  bo  said,  so  as  just  to  produoe  the  desired  effect,  and  no 
other." 

The  instrument  of  the  royal  pleasure  again  withdrew.  Again  tho 
President 'looked  after  him,  and  said,  musingly  :  "  Were  I  not  myself, 
I  would  be  that  man.  I  should  even  owe  him  a  higher  compliment 
could  one  be  devised ;  for,  but  for  him,  I  had  never  been  what  I  am. 
What  then  ?  Is  he  the  creator,  and  am  I  his  creature  ?  No.  I  am 
wrong.  Could  he  have  made  himself  what  I  am,  he  would  have  done 
so.  He  has  but  fulfilled  my  destiny,  and  I  his.  He  has  made  mo 
what  I  alone  was  capable  of  becoming,  and  I,  in  turn,  have  made  him 
all  that  he  ever  can  be.  I  owe  him  nothing  therefore;  and  should  ho 
ever  be  guilty  of  anything  like  virtue,  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  me 
from  lopping  off  any  such  superfluous  excrescence,  even  if  his  head 
should  go  with  it.  But  he  is  in  no  danger  on  that  score.  If  he  held 
his  life  by  no  other  tenure,  his  immortality  would  be  sure." 

While  the  master  thus  soliloquized,  the  minion  was  wending  his  way 
home,  to  the  performance  of  the  various  duties  assigned  him.  Our 
present  business  is  with  the  letter  to  Douglas  alone.  The  pen  of  a 
ready  and  skillful  writer  was  employed,  the  document  was  prepared, 
submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  President,  approved  by  him,  signed 
"by  order"  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  committed  to  the  mai1,  and 
forwarded  to  Douglas.     Let  us  accompany  it- 


00  TIIK   PARTISAN    LRADBB. 


CHAPTEB  Will. 


. 


The  broken  tools  that  tyrants  oast  away 

By  myriads. Byron*. 

BEHOLD  as  then,  once  more,  at  the   door   of  Mr.  Bernard   Trevor's 
tittle    study.     The  undo    had    nephew  arc  together.      A  servant  in: 
with. letters  from  the  post-office,  and  we  enter  with  him.    Tin- letters 
arc  opened,  and   Douglas  haying  read  that  of   the  Secretary  of   War, 
hands  it  to  his  unele.     Let  us  read  with  him. 

8lB  :    I  have  it  in  command  from    his    Kxe.dloncy  the  I'r-  sidonl  to 

Bay,  that  your  letter  of  resignation  has  been  received  with  Barprise  and 
regr<  t. 

••  Eehas  Been  with  surprise  that,  at  a  moment  of  snch  pritioa]  im- 
portance, one  who  had  I  I  were,  the  foster-child  of  the  Union, 
should  w  '.;.<•.  with  apparent  eagerness,  ■  j  retezt  to  desert  the  banner  of 
ial  sovereign. 

"  II.  not  at  the  less  of  service,  which,  rendered  by  one  ca- 

pable even  of  meditating  Bnch  a  Btep,  would,  at  best,  be  merely  nomi- 
nal ;  but  at  the  thought  that  that  one  is  the  son  of  a  friend  so  long 
(In  rished  and  bo  mncfa  respect*  .1  as  yonr  lather. 

"I  am  farther  charged  to  remind  yon  thai  resignation, when  resorted 
to  for  the  purpose  of  evading  military  prosecution,  is  always  deemed 
little  short  of  a  confession  of  guilt  In  mpsl  cases,  this  produces  no 
embarrassment  The  losi  of  the  commission  is  generally  an  adequate 
punishment  ;  and  it  is,  in  Rueh  oa*  -.  well  to  leave  the  conscience  and 
the  fears  of  t':i"  accused  to  inflict  that  ]  unishment,  ratifying  the  sen- 
tence  by  prompt  acceptance  of  the  proffered  resignation, 

"  But  this  does  not  hold  in  all  cases.  The  President  bids  m 
that  l.i-  i-  not  yet  prepared  how  to  act  in  one  of  so  6crious  a  character 
a>  this.  Bis  regard  for  your  father  is  the  source  of  this  perplexity. 
lie  requires  time  t.>  n  fleet  how  far  he  can  reconcile  to  his  public  duty 
that  tend,  meat  t"  the  feelings  <>!'  a  friend  which  makes  hifti  desirous, 
if    j  y    enquiry  by   accepting   your   resignation.      Under  , 

other  circumstanot  -.  he  would   not   hesitate  to   reject  it,  and  instantly 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  91 

order  a  court-martial,  as  tho  proper  means  of  bringing  to  prompt  and 
merited  punishment  an  offence  which,  I  am  charged  to  say,  he  con- 
siders as  virtually  admitted  by  your  attempt  to  evade  a  trial ;  when,  if 
innocent,  you  would  certainly  wish  an  investigation,  in  order  to  estab- 
lish your  innocence^ 

"In  conclusion,  I  am  instructed  to  say  that  for  the  purpose  of  farther1 
communication,  if  nccessar}',  and  to  facilitate  such  measures  aa  it  may 
be  deemed  proper  to  take  in  relation  to  you,  I  am  required  to  keep  my- 
self advised  of  your  locality.  To  save  trouble,  therefore,  I  deem  it  ad- 
visable to  command  you  to  remain  at  the  place  from  whence  your  letter 
of  resignation  was  dated,  and  to  which  this  is  directed,  until  larther  or- 
ders. '  t 

"  Yours,  &c.,  &c. 
("  By  order  of  the  President.") 

This  letter  Mr.  Trevor  read  with  calm  and  quiet  attention,  carefully 
weighing  every  phrase  and  word,  while  Douglas,  perceiving  the  hand- 
writing of  his  friend  Whiting  on  the  back  of  another,  hastily  tore  it 
open,  and  read  as  follows  : 

"I  never  performed  a  more  painful  duty  in  my  life,  my  dear  Trevor, 
than  in  putting  the  seal  and  superscription  to  the  accompanying  letter 
from  the  Secretary. 

"  My  situation  ifi  the  Department  should  have  given  me  earlier  no- 
tice of  what  was  passing,  but  I  got  no  hint  of  it  until  yesterday.  I  im- 
mediately did  what  I  believed  to  be  my  duty  as  a  friend,  though  I  am 
now  fearful  that  what  I  did  may  not  meet  youy  entire  approbation.  I 
am  sensible  you  would  not  have  done  it  for  yourself ;  but  there  arc 
some  things  which  delicacy  forbids  us  to  do  in  our  own  case,  which  we 
are  not  displeased  to  have  done  by  others.  Indeed,  had  I  known  that 
the  matter  had  gone  so  far,  I  should  have  left  it  in  your  own  hands. 
But  I  had  no  reason  to  believe  that  any  intimation  of  it  hail,  as  yet, 
been  given  to  you,  and  I  wished  to  prevent  any  step  whatever  from 
being  taken. 

"With  this  view  I  ventured  to  lay  the  whole  correspondence  before 
the  President.  I  know  that  he  received  and  read  it.  You  will  there- 
fore judge  my  surprise  at  being  rc|uir."l  to-day  u>  forward  the  un- 
precedented document  which  accompanies  this. 

"  I  am  -uilty  of  no  breach    of  duty  wh<  n  1  aanre  you  tint  thai  ]  a- 

sent,  as  it  imports  on  its  race,  'by  tho  order  of  die   President 

The  Secretary  is  not  responsible  even   fur  one  word  of  it.     The  very 

• 


Til :  \N    LEAD 

department  piv- 
ii,  the  Bhape  in  which  yon  n 

hat  I  did,  I   should    I  .btcd  whether  it   had  not 

ptiti  usly  placed  among  other  papers  transwi  at  the 

I  hut   there  is  no  room  for  mistake,     It  came  accom] 
by  the  mosi  autl  that  it  liad  been  read  and  apj  roved  by 

the  1  hursejf. 

'•  I  iiii'l  mysdf  placed  in  a  delicate  situation.  Here  is  an  avowal  of 
full  faith  in  a  char.  i  1  by  my  positive  assurance — a  i 

that  no  one  can  believe,  who  does  not  believe  me  capable  of  basely  fab- 
ricating the  documents,  copies  of  which  the  President  ha.-,  atlthcnti- 
tatcd  under  my  hand.  • 

"  Your  own  com-  leaves  no  doubt  what  you  would  advise  me  to  do 
under  such  circumstances;  but  my  lot  in  life  is  different  from  yuiirs. 
Impatient  as  I  am  of  this  indignity,  I  fear  lethal)  be  constrained  to 
bear  it.  '  My  poverty,  but  not  my  will  consents^  I  do  not,  therefore, 
ask  you  to  advise  me,  for  I  would  not  do  so,  unless  prepared  to  give  to 
your  advice  more  weight  than  I  can  allow  it.  It  could  add  nothing 
to  the  convictions  of  my  .own  mind,  and  the  indignant  writhings  of 
my  own  wounded  honor;  and  even  the*  .  6od  help  me,  I  am  foi 
resist  I 

'•  This  affair  has,  as  yet,  made  no  noise.  It  is  not  at  all  known  of  in 
the  army;  but  I  think  I  can  assure  yon  of  the  sympathy  of  all  whose 
i  you  value,  and  their  unabated  confidence  in  your  honor  and 
fidelity.  1  shall  make  it  niybu.-iin.--.be  the  consequence  to  myself 
what  it  may,  to  do  you  ample  jnstice.  Imbed,  my  indignation  makes 
me  so  reckless  of  consequences,  that,  apart  from  the  necessity  of  bear- 
in-  insult  from  one  from  whom  no  redress  can  be  demanded,  I  am  not 
sure  that  I  do  not  envy  your  lot. 

"  That  your  resignation  will  eventually  be  accepted,  cannot  he  doubt- 
ed. What  is  the  motive  to  this  letter,  it  is  hard  to  say;  but  certainly 
it  does  not  proceed  from  such  a  disposition  as  would  willingly  afford 
you  an  opportunity  of  triumphant  vindication. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Trevor.  We  have  indications  that  stirring 
times  are  at  hand,  which  will  tempt  me  to  exchange  the  pen  for  the 
-w.  id.  Where  duty  may  call  mc,  I  cannot  anticipate;  but  it  will  be 
Strange  if  the  charms  of  a  life  of  active  service  don't  bring  us  together 
again.  Meet  when  we  may,  you  wilL  find  still  and  unalterably,  your 
friend,  E.  W.M 

Having  read  this  second  letter,  Douglas  passed  it  also  to  his  uncle, 
and  rising,  hastily  left  the  house.     It  is  needless  to  scan  the  thoughts 


TIIE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  93 

that  accompanied  him  in  his  ramble.  They  wore  hitter  and  fierce 
enough.  But  he  had  learned,  in  early  life,  to  master  his  Peelings;  and  never 
to  venture  into  the  presence  of  others  until  the  mastery  hud  been  es- 
tablished. Many  a  weary  mile  did  he  walk  that  day  before  his  pur- 
pose was  accomplished,  but  having  at  last  effected  it,  he  returned. 

Mr.  Trevor  had  found  leisure,  in  the  meantime,  to  scrutinize  the  let- 
ters in  whole  and  in  detail,  and  had  at  length  arrived  at  a  conclusion 
not  far  from  the  truth.  He  was  prepared,  therefore,  to  welcome  the 
return  of  Douglas  with  a  cheerful  smile;  and  instead  of  adding  to  his 
excitement  by  any  expression  of  resentment  or  disgust,  endeavored  to 
calm  and  soothe  him.  For  such  conduct  the  young  man  was  altogether 
unprepared.  Aware  oi"  his  uncle's  wishes  in  regard  to  him,  he  had 
looked  for  something  different,  and  had  endeavored  to  fortify  his  mind 
against  such  impressions  as  he  feared  he  might  attempt  to  make  on  it. 
The  great  principles  by  which  he  had  been  taught  to  govern  himself 
were  not  fake  because  he  had  been  wronged.  His  duty  to  the  Union 
was  not  affected  by  the  injustice  of  the  President.  So  his  father  would 
have  reasoned  the  matter,  and  like  his  father,  he  determined,  if  possible, 
to  think  and  act.  But  he  had  no  idea  that  in  this  attempt  lie  would 
receive  countenance  and  even  aid  from  his  uncle.  It  may,  therefore, 
be  readily  believed  that  the  old  gentleman  rose  yet  higher  in  his  es- 
teem and  confidence,  from  the  delicacy  and  forbearance  which  he  so 
unexpectedly  practised. 


M  THB    PABTI8AH    I.KADER. 


en after  xix. 

Stone  walls  do  not  ■  prison  nil 
Noi  iron  bai in 

L.OVEI.A'  K. 

It  was  settled,  on  consultation,  thai  he  should  abide  the  final., 
and  that,  until  then,  nothing  of  what  had  passed  should  be  made  known 

father,  to  Delia,  or  to  any  of  the  family  but  Mrs.  Trevor.  In 
I,,  r  he  1  ad  learned  to  leek  in  adviser,  and  in  her  he  always  found  one, 
sincere,  sagacious,  and  discreet  Mr.  Trevor,  as  I  have  said,  was  not  ;» 
man  from  whose  opinions  his  wife  would  probably  dissent,  but  I 

•■  1  himself  to  command  her  blind,  unri  osoning  acquiescence. 
lie  Lad  trained  her  mind;  he  had  furnished  her  with  materi 

h(  ;  and  he  had  taught  her  to  tliink.    She  was  in  all  bis  confi- 
dence; and  he  consulted  with  her  habitually  on  plans  which  in> 
the  welfare  of  Id.-'  country.     Prom  her,  therefore,  the  bistorj  of  Doug- 
las's entanglement  with  the  authorities  at  Washington  was  not  con- 
Kiuin  tl  the  family  it  was  a  profound  secret;  and,  as 

Mr.  Trevor's  health  was  dow  muoh  restored,  it  did  not  interrupt  the 
enjoyments  of  the  genial  Besson  which  invited  them  to  seek  amuse- 
ment oat  of  doors.  By  means  of  this,  the  impatience  of  Douglas  was 
diverted,  and  h^  found  it  quite  easy  to  accomplish  his  philosophical  de- 
termination to  wait  the  result  of  the  affair  in  patience. 
When,  at  length,  a  we<  k  had  been  allowed  him  to  fret  Ins  heart  out, 

f<  rred  acceptance  of  his  resignation  was  received.  Tlii^,  too, was 
couched  in  phrases  of  decorous  and  Btudied  insult.  But  he  had  learned 
to  think  that  the  dastard  blow  struck  by  one  who  screens  himself  be- 
hind the  authority  <>!  offioe,  infli<-ts  no  dishonor;  The  interval,  which 
had  been  intended  to  give  his  passions  time  to  work  tin  mselves  into  a 

t,  had  subdued  them.  Reason  had  taken  the  ascendant,  and, 
though  hi.-  reflections  had  not  been  much  more  favorable  to  the  author- 
ity of  his  former  master,  than  the  promptings  of  his  resentment,  they 
were  mueh  less  Baited  to  his  present  purpose.  IK'  was  effectually 
weaned;  divested  of  all  former  pre-possessions,  and  ready  to  yield 
to  the  dictates  of  calm,  unbiassed  reason,  lie  sought  his  uncle,  and 
with  ::  quiet  and  Cheerful  smile,  handed  him  the  letter. 

A-  -    M  a-  Mr.  Trevor  read  it.  he  exclaimed,  "Thank  God!  you  arc 
now  a  freeman." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  95 

"  I  am  truly  thankful  for  it,"  replied  Douglas,  "  though  I  feel  as  if 
I  shall  never  lose  the  mark  of  the  collar  which  reminds  me  that  I  have 
been  a  slave.  But,  until  within  a  short  time  past,  I  have  never  felt 
that  I  was." 

"  When  the  bondage  reaches  to  the  mind,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "it  is 
not  felt." 

"And  was  nine  enslaved,"  asked  Douglas,  "when  my  thoughts 
were  as  free  as  air  ?" 

"Their  prison  was  airy,"  replied  the  old'gentlcman,  "and  roomy,  and 
splendidly  fitted  up.  But  look  at  the  President's  letters,  and  sec  the 
penalties  you  might  nave  incurred,  had  your  freedom  of  thought  ram- 
bled into  such  opinions  as  many  of  your  best  friends  entertain." 

"  Still,"  replied  .Douglas,  "the  penalty  would  have  attached,  not  to 
the  opinion  but  to  the  expression  of  it." 

"  And  do  you  think  your  mind  would  work  without  constraint,  in 
deciding  between  opinions  which  it  might  be  unsafe  to  express,  and 
those  which  would  be  regarded  as  meritorious  ?" 

"  I  can,  at  least,  assure  you  that  such  a  thought  as  that  never  oc- 
curred to  me." 

"  But  it  occurred  to  your  friends.  It  tied  my  tongue,  and,  I  suspect, 
your  father's  too,  of  late.  Now  that  1  am  free  to  speak,  let  me  ask, 
wherein  would  have  been  the  criminality  of  expressing  the  opinions 
imputed  to  you?" 

"  It  would  have  been  inconsistent  with  my  duty  of  allegiance." 

"  Allegiance  !  To  whom  ?  You  will  not  say  to  King  Martin,  the 
First  ?    To  what  ?" 

"  To  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  I  was  bound  by  oath  to 
support  that." 

"  And  what  if  your  views  of  the  constitution  had  shown  you  that 
the  acts  of  the  Government  were  violations  of  the  constitution,  and 
that  the  men  denounced  by  Baker  as  traitors  were  its  i  sup- 

porters.    "What  duty  would  your  oath   have  prescribed  in  that 
Would  you  support   the    constitution   by   taking  part  with  those  who 
trampled  it  under  foot,  against   those  who  uphold  it  as  long  as  there 
Was  hope  ?" 

"  I  should  have  distrusted  my  own  judgment  Surely,  you  would 
not  have  me  sot  up  that  against   tl  ■  -if  the  1'  gislature,  i 

tivi  .  and  judiciary,  all  concurrently   expressed  according  to  the  forma 
of  the  constitution." 

"  What  then  must  /do?"  askrd    Mr.  TrCTST.     "Be  the  pinions  of 

all  these  men  what  they  may,  tho  constitution,  after   all.  i^  what  it  h 

bj  I  am  bound  to  support  it.     Now,  when  I  have  schooled  n         ' 


THi:    PARTISAN    LEADER. 
• 

spcct  for  tl  .  and  all  ;  iffidence 

ill  think  that  tl  learly  in  error,  <m- 

t  opinion   <>r  my  own  that  T  shall  sal  mi  con- 

■  i  which    my    oath    I  .    that    1    do  actual!;.  the 

■  ition '.'" 

••  I  :m  to  your 

own  convicti  i 

••  Then  /  may,  at  last,  trust  my  own  judgment  when  I  have  no  1 
any  doubl 

••  You  most,  of  it' 

"  Aii-1  you,"  Baid  Mr.  Trevor,  "  wlm  were  not  free  to  do  so — who,  in 
th>'  matter  of  an  oath,  were  to  1  e  guided*  nut  by  your  own  <■  Dscience, 
hut  by  tl  Dcea  of  other. nun — was  your  mind  frei 

d  high,  and,  after  a  long  pause,  Baid  :  "  1  Bee  thai  I 
been  swinging  in  a  gilded  cage,  and  mistook  its  motions  fbr  those 

of  in y  own  will.      1  see  it,  and  again   respond   cordially  to  your  ejacula- 
tion—Thank Cod  :   I  am  !':• 

"  I  rejoice  at  it,  especially,"  said   Mr.  Trevor.  '    because  now  all  rc- 
I  an  end  between  a  .  in  all  •.     intercourse  with 

you,  my  tongue  has  been  tied  on  the  Bubjeol  oJ  wuich  I  think  m 
and  on  which  I  feel  mi  I   find  it  hard  to  speak  to  a  sou  ol 

finia  without  Bpeaking  of  her  wrungs,  and  the  means  of  r< 
them.     I'   is  harder  still,  when  he  to  whom  I  speak  is  my  own  son 
too." 

■•  I  have  long  ago  hamed  from  my  father,"  said  Douglas,  "that  the 
whole  South  had  been  much  opprei  ed.  I  know,  too,  that  he  attri- 
bute ion  to  the  exercise  of  powers  not  granted  by  the  con- 
stitution. Hut,  with  every  disposition  to  resist  this  oppression,  he 
taught  me  to  hear  it  sooner  than  incur  the  evils  of  disunion." 

"  What  are  they  f" 

"  Weakness,  dissention,  and  the  danger  to  liberty  from  the  standing 
armies  of  distinct  and  rival  powei 

"  Bence  you  have  never  permitted  yourself  to  look  narrowly  into 
the  question/' 

"  I  never  have.  IJiave  no  doubt  of  our  wrongs;  but  T  bavo  never 

'•  red  myself   to  weigh  them  disunion.    That  I  have  been 

taught  to  regard  as  the  maximum  of  evil." 

t  disunion    has    now  come.     The  question  now  is,  whether  you 

.'.I  continue  to  bear  these  wrongs,  or  seek  the  remedy  offered  by  an 
invitat£on*to  join  the  Southern  Confederacy.     The  evils  of  which  you 

lk  would   certainly   not   he    increased   by   such   a  Btep.      We  might 

iken  the  North,  but  not  ourselves.     \-  to    landing  armies.. here  we 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  97 

have  one  among  us.  The  motive  which  that  danger  presented  is  now 
reversed  in  its  operation.  While  we  remain  as  we  are,  the  standing 
army  is  fastened  upon  us.  By  the  proposed  change,  we  shake  it  off. 
Then,  as  to  dissention,  if  there  is  no  cause  of  war  now,  there  would  be 
none  then.  Indeed  the  only  cause  would  be  removed,  and  it  would  be 
seen  that  both  parties  had  cjery  inducement  to  peace.  Even  in  the 
present  unnatural  condition,  you  sec  that  the  separation  having  once 
taken  place,  there  remains  nothing  to  quarrel  about." 

"What,  then,"  said  Douglas,  "is  the  meaning  of  all  this  military 
array  that  I  see  ?  Arc  no  hostile  movements  apprehended  from  the 
Southern  Confederacy  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.  Thcv  have  no  such  thought.  The  talk  of  such  things 
is  nothing  but  a  pietext  for  muzzling  Virginia." 

"  How  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Douglas. 

"You  will  know  if  you  attend  the  election  in  this  county  to-morrow. 
You  will  then  sec  that  a  detachment  of  troops  has  been  ordered  here  ■ 
on  the  eve  of  the  election.  The  ostensible  use  of  it,  is  to  aid  in  the 
prevention  of  smuggling,  or,  in  other  words,  in  the  enforcement  of  the 
odious  tariff,  and  a  participation  in  the  advantages  our  southern  neigh- 
bors enjoy  since  they  have  shaken  it  off.  But  you  will  see  this  force 
employed  to  brow-beat  and  intimidate  the  people,  and  to  drive  from 
the  polls  such  as  cannot  be  brought  to  vote  in  conformity  to  the  will  of 
our  rulers.  Go  back  to.  Richmond  next  winter,  and  you  will  sec  the 
force  stationed  there  increased  to  what  will  be  called  an  army  of  ob- 
servation. In  the  midst  of  this,  the  Legislature  will  hold  its  mock  de- 
liberations ;  and  you  will  find  advanced  posts  so  arranged  as  to  bridle 
the  disaffected  counties,  and  prevent  the  people  from  marching  to  the 
relief  of  their  representatives.  By  one  or  the  other,  or  both  of  these 
operations,  Virginia  will  be  prevented  from  expressing  her  will  in  (he 
only  legitimate  way,  and  her  sons,  who  take  up  arms  on  her  behalf, 
will  be  stigmatised  as  traitors,  not  only  to  the  United  States,  but  to 
her." 


!*r«  THE    PARTISAN    I 


CHAPTER    XX. 

All.  villian!    tliou    wilt    lxtray    inc.    :i  ml  gat  :i  thOtMMld  CrOWQS  of  tin-  King 
for  earn  in-  my  bead  ttJ  him. — SllAKSli 

\-   Mr,  Trevor  hatl  intimated,  the  next  day  was  the  day  for  the  I 

tion  of  meiaben  in  the  State  Legislature  The  old  gentleman,  in 
spite  of  kia  iiitinnities,  determined  to  be  present  He  ordered  his  be* 
ronohe,  and  provided  with  arms  both  the  servant  who  drove  bim,  and 
0B6  who  attended  on  horseback.  II**  armed  himself  also  With  pistols 
and  a  dirk,  and  recommended  a  like  precaution  to  Douglas.  "  Xou 
must  go  on  horseback. '"  said  he.  "  It  majf  enable  you  to  act  with  more 
efficiency  on  an  emergency.  At  all  events,  were  yu  to  drive  me.  I 
should  have  no  excuse  for  taking  one  whose  services  I  would  not  will- 
ingly dispense  with.  Give  me  the  world  to  choose  from, and  old  Tom's 
son  Jack  is  the  man  I  would  wish  to  have  beside  me  in  the  hour  of 
danger.  As  to  you,  my  son,  I  think  your  late  master  would  not  be 
son.  .  >u  into  a  scrape.     You  should,   therefore,  be  ou^our 

guard.     My  infirmities  will  render  your  personal  aid  necessary  to  help 
ii,.  t.  the  polls.     Keep  near  me,  therefore]  but  keep  cool,  and  le§ve 

me  to  fight  my  own  battles.  PrudenOC  and  forbearance  are  necessary 
for  you.  As  to  me,  1  have  nothing  to  hazard.  The  measure  of  my 
offences  is  full  already.  I  have  sinned  the  unpardonable  sin,  and 
though  there  is  no  name  lor  it  in  the  statute  book,  1  have  no  doubt  if 
thi  v  had  me  before  their  new  Court  of  High  Commission  at  Washing- 
ton, your  special  friend,  Judge  Baker,  would  find  one.'' 
"  Why  do  you  call  him  my  special  friend,"  asked  Douglas. 

'•  Because  I  have  means  of  being  advised  of  what  is  doing  among 
our  rulers,  and  know  that  he  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  proceed- 
ing against  you.  Therefore,  1  warn  you  to  be  prudent  today.  Depend 
n  it,  if  you  can  be  taken  in  a  fault,  he  will  find  means  '  to  iced  fat 
his  grudge'  against  you." 

On  reaching  the  election  ground,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  seen 
floating  above  the  door  of  the  court-house,  which  was  still  closed.  A 
military  parade  was  "being  enacted"  for  the  amusement  of  the  boys 
and  cake  women,  and  the  uniform   showed  that  the  men  were  regulars 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  99 

*  .  • 

in  the  service  of  the  United  States.  They  wore  twenty  or  thirty  in 
d amber,  all  completely  armed  and  equipped.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Trevor 
appeared,  they  were  dismissed  from  parade,  the  door  was  thrown  open, 
and  they  rushed  into*  the  house.  Presently  after,  it  was  proclaimed 
that  the  polls  were  opened. 

As  Mr.  Trevor  approached  the  door,  Douglas  observed  that  a  multi- 
tude of  persons,  who  before  had  been  looking  on,  in  silent  observance 
of  what  was  passing,  advanced  to  salute  him,  and,  falling  behind  him, 
followed  to  the  courthouse.  On  reaching  the  door,  they  found  it  ef- 
fectually blocked  up  by  half  a  dozen  soldiers,  who  stood  in  and  about, 
as  if  by  accident  and  inadvertence.  But  the  unaccommodating  stiff- 
ness with  which  each  maintained  his  position,  left  no  doubt  that  they 
were  there  by  design.  They  were  silent,  but  their  bru'ish  counte- 
nances spoke  their  purpose  and  feelings.  Mr.  Trevor  might  have  en- 
deavored in  vain  to  force  his  passage,  had  not  the  weight  of  the  crowd 
behind  pressed  him  through  the  door.  In  this  process  he  was  exposed 
to  some  suffering,  but  made  no  complaint.  The  effect  appeared  only 
in  the  flush  of  his  check,  and  the  twitching  of  his  features.  The 
blood  of  Douglas  began  to  boil,  and,  fur  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the 
uniform  he  had  so  long  worn  was  hateful  in  his  sight. 

On  entering  the  house,  they  were  nearly  deafened  with  the  din.  It 
proceeded  from  quite  a  small  number,  but  they  made  amends  for  their 
deficiency  in  this  respect,  by  clamorously  shouting  their  hurras  for  the 
President,  and  his-  favored  candidate.  Besides  the  soldiery,  there  were 
present  the  sheriff,  who  conducted  the  election,  and  sqidc  twenty  or 
thirty  of  the  lowest  rabble.  On  the  bench  were  two  candidates.  The 
countenance  of  one  of  those  Avas  flushed  with  insolent  triumph.  The 
other  looked  pale  and  agitated.  lie  was  placed  between  his  competitor 
and  a  subaltern  officer  of  the  United  States  army.  He  Beeffied  to  have 
»  been  saving  something,  and  at  the  moment  when  Mr.  Trevor  and  his 
party  entered,  was  about  to  withdraw. 

Meeting  him  at  the  foot  of  the  stair  leading  down  from  the  bench, 
that  gentleman  asked  him  the  meaning  of  what  he  saw;  to  which  he 
answered  that  he  had  been  compelled  to  withdraw.  The  meeting  of 
these  two  gentlemen  had  at)'  tention,  an  1  curiosity  to  hear  what 

night  pass  between    them,  for   a   moment  stilled  the  many-ton 
clamor.    Mr.  Trevor  took  advantage  of  tfa  ry  silence,  and  »id 

aloud — "  You  have  been  compelled  to  withdraw.    Speak  pat  distinctly, 
then,  and  say  that  you  are  no  longer  a  eandidat 

"  Fellow-citizens,"  responded  the  other,   in   the   loodesl  toot 
tremor  enabled  him  to  command,  "  '  am  do  longer  a  condi 


100  the  partisan   LIADJ 

\M.    I     \m     \    CANDIDATE,"    Oried    Mr.   Trevor,   in  a  vice  which 

through  tli-  house.     I  am  b  candidate  on  behalf  of  \HniiMA, 
].,  r  Rights,  end  her  Sen  1  bj  [qhty/'       • 

The  shout  from  behind   the  bar,  at   this  annunciation,  somewhat 
r]annt( '1  the  blue  coats,  and  Mr.  Trevor  was  lifted  t.>  the  bench  sp  die 
shoulders  of  hi.-  friends;  when  the  officer  was  heard  to  cry  out,  "CV 
the  i  •  ' 

•■  place  me  near  that  officer/'  said  Mr.  Trevor,  in  a  quiet  tone.    The 
;i.  :i  worthy,  but  timid  man,  looked  at  him  imploringly:     li>  I 
.-it  down  by  the  side  of  the  officer,  and,  leaning  on  the  shoulder  of 
Douglas,  t hn -  addressed  bin  : 

"  1  shall  say  nothing,  sir,"  paid  he,  "  to  the  sheriff  about  ha  duty. 
He  i-  the  judge  of  that,  and  he  knows  that,  without  my  consent, 
!i;i~  no  right  to  close  the  polls  hel'ore  sunset.  Unless  compelled  by 
force,  he  will  not  do  it.  lie  thall  i«<t  he  compelled  by  force  :  and.  it' 
force  is  used,  1  shall  know  whence  it  comes.  Now  mark  me,  air;  I 
nni  determined  that  this  election  thail  go  on,  and  thai  peaceably.  If 
force  i-  used,  it  must  be  used  first  on  me.  Now,  sir,  my  friends  an' 
numerous  and  brave,  and  will  armed,  and  I  warn  you  thai  my  fall  will 
he  the  sL-nal  <>f  your  doom.  Not  one  of  your  bayonetted  orew  would 
have  this  house  alive.  As  toyow,  sir.  1  keep  say  eye  apon yon.  Von 
-;ir  pot  from  my  Bide,  till  the  polls  are  closed.  I  hold  you  as  a  host 
for  the  safety  of  the. sheriff.  It'  an  attack  is  made  on  him,  I  shall 
know  you  tor  tin'  instigator,  And,  more  than  that,  sir.  1  know  be  is 
to  do  his;  duty,  and  will  not  think  of  closing  the   ]>i>lls  prema* 

turely.     A  menaoe  addressed  to  him  may  escape  my  car.     It'  he  offers 
to  do  it,  if  he  does  hut  open  his  mouth  to  declare  that  the  polls  are 
d,  1  blow  your  brains  out  on  the  Bpot 
Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  ho,  at  tin-  same  moment,  showed  a 

pistol,  the  finish  of  which   gave  assurance  that   it  would  not  miss  lire 
The  officer  Btsrted    hack    in    evident    alarm,    and    made   a  movement  to 

withdraw;  hut  he  fmind  him-.  I,'  hedged  in  by  brawny  countrymen, 

v.ho  closed  around  him,  while  every  hand  was  .seen   to  gripe  the  handle 
of  some  concealed  weapon. 

'  Bi  patient,  sir,"  -aid  Mr.  Trevor,  "you  had  no  hnsim-s  here  ;  hut, 
being  lore,  you  shall  remain.  No  harm  shall  be  done  you.  I  will  cn- 
Bure  you  against  every  thing  hut  the  consequences  of  your  own  vio- 
lence. Offer  DOnc.  For  if  you  do  hut  lilt  your  hand,  or  touch  your 
WCaponS,  or  utter  one  Word  to  your  myrmidons,  you  die." 

These  word-  w<  re  uttered  in  a  tone  in  which,  though  loud  enough  to 

be  heard  hy  all,  there  was  as  much  of  mildness  as  of  liru. n<  .->.    Indeed 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  101 

his  last  fearful  expression    was  actually  spnke'n    as  in  kindness.     The 
officer  seemed  to  take  it  so,  and  quietly  Mated  himself. 

Not  so  the  rival  candidate.  He  rose,  with  a  great  parade  of  indig- 
nation, saying — "  Let  me  pass,  at  least.     This  is  no  place  for  inc." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  leave  us,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  with  great  cour- 
tesy. 

"  I  do,"  said  the  other.     "To  what  purpose  should  I  remain  ?" 

"  Do  you  then  decline  ?    Arc  you  no  longer  a  candidate  ?" 

"  T  am — but  I  will  not  remain  here  beset  by  armed  violence." 

"  Will  you  leave  no  one  to  represent  you?" 

"  No — I  leave  you  to  work  your  will.  I  have  no  farther  part  in  the 
matter.  I  shall  do  nothing,  and  consent  to  nothing.  When  the  law 
closes  the  poll,  it  will  be  closed." 

Saykig  this,  he  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Trevor  observed  that,  as  he  went 
out,  he  spoke  aside  to  the  sergeant  of  the  company,  who  followed  him 
from  the  house.  Soon  after,  the  men,  one  by  one,  dropped  off,  and  all 
at  length  disappeared. 

The  election  now  went  on  peaceably,  and  nearly  every  vote  was  cast 
fur  Mr.  Trevor.  But  it  did  not  escape  his  observation  that  there  were 
persons  present  whom  he  knew  to  be  hostile  to  him,  and  devoted  to  the 
rulers  at  Washington,  who  yet  did  not  vote.  He  saw  the  motive  of  this 
conduct,  but  determined  to  make  it  manifest  to  others  as  well  as  him- 
self, and  to  expose  the  disingenuous  and  unmanly  artifice  which  he  saw 
his  enemies  were  using  against  him.  Catching  the  eye  of  a  well 
dressed  man  he  said,  "  You  h  ve  not  voted,  I  think,  Mr.  A——?" 

"  I  have  not,"  was  the  answer,  "  and  I  don't  mean  to  vote." 

"  I  bee  that  you  will,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "  I  know  you  to  be  my 
enemy,  personal  as  well  as  political;  but  I  sincerely  wish  the  name  of 
every  voter  in  the  county  to  appear  on  the  poll-book,  though  my  defeat 
should  be  the  consequence." 

"It  may  be  so,  sir,"  replied  the  other;  "  but  I  shall  not  vote  at  an 
election  controlled  by  force,  and  where  those  commissioned  by  the 
Government  to  keep  order,  arc  cither  driven  off  or  detained  in  du- 
rance." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir,"    said    Mr.  Trevor.     "Am   I  to  infet 
that  the  presence  of  the  military  bore  is  under  the  uvowed  ordei 
their  master  ?" 

"I  dare  say,"  replied  the  other,  "thai  Lieutenant  Johnaoo  will  thou 
you  his  orders,  if  you  will  condescend  to  look  at  them." 

"I  will  do  so,  with  great  pleasure,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "and  pi 
myself  great  edification  frcm  the  perua 


# 

102  TUT.    PABTIBAfl    LEAD 

thou,  sir,'"  said  the  officer,  taking  a  paper  from  bis 
•.  which  be  read  accordingly  in  the  following  words: 

••  \-  there  is  reason  to  believe  thai  evil  disposed  persona  design  to 
overawe  or  disturb  the  election  of  members  to  tl  iture  from  the 

county  of ,  Lieutenant  Johns*  n  will  attend  at  the  day  and  place 

lection  with  the  troops  under  his  command,  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
log order.  Should  bis  authority  he  opposed,  be  is,  if  permitted  to 
do  so,  to  make  known  that  he  acts  by  the  command  of 'the  President, 
to  the  and  that  all  who  may  be  disposed  to  resist  him,  may  bo  duly 
warned  that  in  so  doing  they  resist  the  authority  of  the  United  Sti 
and  take  heed  list  they  incur  the  penalties  of  the  la. v." 

'•  Why.  this  is  well,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  '•  And  it  is  to  give  color  ami 
countenance  to  u  charge  of  resistance  to  the  authority  of  thelnitcd 
States,  that  you,  Mr.  A ,  refuse  to  vote." 

'■  .No,  >ir,"  replied  A .  "  it  is  because  I  never  will  rote  at  an  (lec- 
tion controlled  by  force." 

"  Be  i:  BO,  id   Mr.  Trevor.      "I  perceive  your  drift. 

and  tell  your  master  that   tl  used  to  vindicate  the  freedom  of 

tion  were  nsed  to  control  it.   Go,  sir,  and  show  that  you  are  as  much 
an  enemy  to  truth  and  honor  as  to  me." 

To  this  A made  no  reply,  and  Boon  after  withdrew,     Indeed, 

hardly  any  person  remained  but  the  friends  of  Mr.  Trevor,  and  it  was 
obvious  that  the  n  suit  of  the  election  was  not  to  be  changed  by  any 
rotes  which  could  bo  given.  The  neccssltj  ol  keeping  open  the  poll 
till  sunset  was,  neverthi  less,  imperious.  But  the  scene  became  dull 
and  irksome.  Douglas,  therefore,  proposed  that  his  ancle  should  re- 
turn home.  • 

•■  \'\   no   means,"  said    he.     "You   don'l    understand    this 
Should  we  disband,  the  sheriff  would  he  required,  at  the  peril  of  hi* 
life,  to  make  a  false  r<  turn.     But  he  shall  have  his  will.     Mr.  Sheriff^ 

shall  I   withdraw  also  ?" 

"No!  no!  For  God's  sake,  stay,  sir!"  exclaimed  the  alarmed 
Sheriff;   "and  either  see  me  home,  or  take  me  home  with  you.      1  have 

not  the  influence  which  makes  you  safe  in  the  midst  of  enemies,  and 
am  not  ashamed  to  say  that  I  fear  my  life." 

"1  will  prjptecl  you,  then,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "  until  you  have 
made  out  your  return,  and  given  your  certificate.  When  these  arc 
done,  I  hope  you  will  be  sale." 

The  scene  again  subsided  into  its  former  dullness.  The  enemy  had 
disappeared,  with   the    c.\  leption    of  the   captive  officer,  who  looked  On 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  103 

ruefully,  while  an  occasional  vote  was  given  at  long  intervals.  At 
length,  Mr.  Trevor  observed  that  some  of  the  voters  were  about  to 
withdraw.     He  therefore  rose,  and  begged  them  to  remain. 

"This  business  is  not  over,"  said  he.  u  It  is  not  for  nothing  that 
the  polls  are  to  be  kept  open  until  sunset,  when  all  who  have  not  voted 
have  withdrawn.  An  attack  on  the  sheriff  or  myself  is  certainly  in- 
tended. Perhaps  on  both.  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  not  to  disperse, 
but  to  see  us  both  safe  to  my  house.  When  once  among  my  own  peo- 
ple, I  will  take  .care  of  him  and  myself.  I  am  sorry,  sir,"  continued 
he,  addressing  the  officer,  "  that  the  movements  of  your  friends  make 
it  necessary  to  detain  you  longer  than  I  had  intended.  You  must  be 
a  hostage  for  us  all,  until  this  day's  work  is  over.  But  assure  yourself 
of  being  treated  with  all  courtesy  and  kindness.  Should  I  even  find 
it  necessary  to  compel  your  company  to  my  own  house,  doubt  not  that  you 
will  receive  every  attention  due  to  an  honored  guest.  I  beg  you  to  ob- 
serve that  I  do  not  even  disarm  you.  The  warning  you  have  received 
is  my  only  security  that  you  will  attempt  no  violence." 

This  speech  was  heard  in  sullen  silence  by  him  to  whom  it  was  ad- 
dressed. But  some  conversation  with  others  ensued,  in  which  Mr. 
Trevor  took  pains  to  enlighten  the  minds  of  his  hearers  in  regard  to 
public  affairs.  The  day  wore  away  somewhat  less  wearily ;  the  sua 
went  down,  and  Bernard  Trevor  was  proclaimed  to  be  duly  elected. 

Our  party  now  took  up  the  line  of  march.  The  sheriff  and  officer 
were  placed  in  Mr.  Trevor's  barouche ;  the  former  by  his  side — the 
latter  in  front  of  him,  by  the  side  of  the  driver.  A  numerous  compa- 
ny on  horseback  surrounded  them. 

They  were  scarcely  in  motion,  before  the  drum  was  heard,  and  the 
regulars  were  seen  advancing  to  meet  them  in  military  array.  Mr. 
Trevor  immediately  commanded  the  driver  to  stop,  and  draw  his  pistol. 
Then  calling  to  the  servant  on  horseback,  he  made  him  station  himself, 
pistol  in  hand,  close  to  the  officer.  Having  made  this  arrangement, 
he  addressed  him : 

"You  sec  your  situation,  sir.  Those  fellows  would  not  scruple  to 
shoot  your  master  himself  at  my  bidding  ;  and  my  orders  to  you  both, 
boys,  are,  that  if  we  arc  attacked,  you  arc  both  to  shoot  this  gentleman 
upon  the  spot.  1  shall  do  the  same  thing,  sir  ;  so  that  between  us  you 
cannot  csci]' .  Now,  sir,  stand  up  and  show  yourself  to  your  in-  n. 
and  speak  distinctly  the  words  of  command  that  I  shall  dictat< 

The  officer  did   as  he   was  directed.     The    advancing   platoon  was 
halted,  and  wheeled  backward  to  the  side  of  the  road  ;  the  armi 
ordered,  and   the  barouche   passed  on.     After    paaaiog,  a  momentary 


104  THK    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

irfaile  the  sergeant  was  ordered  to  march  the  meo  back 

to  their  quartern.      This  was  done,  and   as   soon  as  the  tWO  parties  Wi  re 
distance  Sawder,  Lieutenant  Johnson  was   released,  and  eourte- 
©ut-ly  diauuaoed.      Mr.  Trevor  and   his  friends  reached  home  in  - 
and  without  interruption,  and  thu^  ended  the  election  day. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  105 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

I  tell  you,  my  lord  fool,  that  out  of  this  nettle,  Danger,  wc  plack  this  flower, 
Safely.  Shakspeaue. 

The  domestic  party  that'  we  left  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Trevor  were  va- 
riously affected  by  the  history  of  the  occurrences  detailed  in  the  last 
chapter.  Arthur  had  been  slightly  indisposed,  and  his  uncle  hud  made 
that  a  pretext  for  keeping  him  out  of  harm's  way.  But  when  he  heard 
what  had  passed,  his  spirit  was  roused,  and  he  felt  as  a  soldier  who 
hears  the  history  of  some  well-fought  battle  where  he  was  not  permitted 
to  be  present.  To  Virginia  the  whole  story  was  a  subject  of  wonder- 
ment and  alarm.  The  idea  that  her  dear  uncle,  and  her  dearer  broth- 
er, had  been  engaged  in  an  affair  where  "dirk  and  pistol"  was  the 
word,  threw  her  into  a  flutter  of  trepidation.  She  could  not  refrain 
from  asking  the  former  whether  he  would  have-shot  the  poor  man  sure 
enough;  and  received  his  affirmative  answer  with  a  shudder.  The 
feelings  of  Lucia  did  not  much  differ  from  hers,  except  in  intensity. 
She  had  heard  too  much  to  be  wholly  unprepared  for  such  things,  and 
her  mind  was  too  much  accustomed  to  take  its  tone  from  those  of  hor 
mother  and  sister. 

On  these  ladies  the  impression  made  by  the  events  of  the  day  wa3 
wholly  different.  If  the  countenance  of  Mrs.  Trevor  was  more  thought- 
ful than  before,  it  only  spoke  of  higher  thoughts.  Her  eye  was  bright- 
er, her  carriage  more  erect,  her  step  more  free,  while  her  smile  had 
less,  perhaps,  of  quiet  satisfaction,  but  more  of  hope.  The  flutter  of 
youthful  feelings,  and  the  sweeter  and  more  tender  thoughts  propel1  to 
one  newly  betrothed,  made  the  chief  difference  between  Delia  and  her 
mother.  But  while  Douglas  saw  in  the  latter  all  the  evidence  of  those 
high  qualities  which  fit  a  woman  to  be  not  merely  the  consolation  and 
joy  of  her  husband, but  his  sage  adviser  and  useful  friend,  he  saw  enough  in 
Delia  to  show  that  she,  in  due  time,  would  be  to  him  all  that  her  moth- 
er was  to  his  uncle. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Mr.  B —  arrived,  and  his  appearance  was  a 
signal  of  joy  to  the  whole  family.      Douglas  now,  for  the  first  time,  dis-  m 
covered  that  he  stood  in  some  interesting,  though  undefined  relation  to 
them,  and  especially  to  hi*  aunt.    That  there  was  no  oonnexioa  of  bl 
or  marriage  he  knew;  yet  the  feelings  of  the  parties  towards  •  aen  other 
were  mutually  filial  and  paternal.     The  imposing  dignity  of  Mrs.  Trc- 


T1IK    l'Al.TISAX    LRADBBh 

urrcndercd  in   his  presence.      Her  maiden 
•.  whicb  ii"  otber  lip  bat  that  of  her  husband  would 
have  v<  atared  I  i  profane,  was  that  by  which  alon< 

and  tli.it  generally  acct  mpanied  with  Bome  endearing  epithet  The 
ild  wt  upon   bis  knee,  and  plat  familiarly  and  affectionately 
with  hie  grey  locks;  while  the  servants,  in  the  proud  humility  of  their 
ntsandv  med  hardly  to  distinguish  between 

lii tn  and  their  beloved  and  honored  master.     It  was  not  to  be  beli 
that  the  family  kept  any  secrets  from  him,  to  that   Douj  1  not 

doubt  that  he  was  privy  to  bis  little  affair  of  the  heart.     And  bo  he 
was;  and  bis  manner  toward  th<  n  was,  from  the  tirst,  that  of 

I  mar  kinsman,  hardly  differing  in  any  thing  from  that  of  hie  m 
As  far  as  < .  incidi  nee  of  sentiment  and  similarity  of  character  could  ex- 
plain this  close  intimacy,  it  stood  explained.  Between  him  and  Mr 
Trevor  there  were  many  points  of  Strong  similitude.  But  to  Mrs.  Tre- 
vor  the  resemblance  was  more  striking.  Age  and  sex  seemed  to  make 
the  only  difference  between  them. 

But,  in  addition  to  this  domestic  relation,  which  embraced  i  very 
member  <>T  the  household  down  to  the  scullion  and  Bhoe-black,  there 
was  obviously  some  und<  refunding  between  the  gentlemen  in  regard  to 
matters  of  much  higher  concernment  Indeed,  no  pain.-  were  taken  bo 
oonceal  this  fact,  though,  during  Mr.  I! — s  former  visit,  Douglas  had 
not  been  admitted  to  any  of  their  consultations  but  thativhieh  concern- 
ed himself 

It  was  not  long  before  the  tv  d,  iii  the  little  study, 

in  close  conclave;  and  soon  after,  a  message  was  delivered  to  Douglas 
requesting  his  presence. 

"1  ;ini  the  bearer  of  important  intelligence,"  said  B — ,  holding  out 
his  hand  to  th<  youth  as  he  entered;  "and  as  it  particularly  concerns 
you,  at  well  as  your  uncle,  yon  must  perforce  consent  to  become  privy 

•    to  our  council." 

••  I  .tin  not  sorry  to  hear  it,"  replied  Douglas.  " If  any  thing  was 
wanting  to  banish  slf  reserve  between  as,  I  would  he  content  to  Buffer 
some  loss  to  effect  that  object." 

"  I  belii  V'-  you,"  Baid  B — ,  "and  therefore  expect  you  will  the  less 
nt  circumstance,  which,  without  your  act  or  consent, 

and  even  in  Bpite  of  you,  hinds  you  in  the  same  hundle.with  us." 

"That  was  already  done/'  said  Douglas.  "What  new  tie  can  there 
•be?" 

"One  of  the  Btrongest.  The  union  of  your  name  with  your  uncle's 
in  a  warrant  for  high  treason  from  the  eourt  of  high  commission  at 
Washington." 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  107 

''You  speak  riddles,"  said  Douglas.  "The  only  instance  in  which  I 
ever  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  President,  was  one  which  no  hu- 
man ingenuity  could  torture  into  treason;  and  certainly  my  made  had 
no  hand  in  that." 

"But,  having  than  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  G'overmnenj,  what 
if  you  should  gtnee  have  been  concerned  in  any  matter  which  might  be 
called  treason?" 

"Hut  there  has  been  no  such  matter." 

"My  dear  boy;"  said  .Mr.  Trevor,  "the  question  is  not  of  what  we 
have  done.  ITad  we  actually  done  any  thing  culpable,  there  would  be 
no  occasion  for  this  warrant  from  Washington.  Our  own  courts,  and  a 
jury  of  peers,  may  be  trusted  to  try  the  guilty.  But  when  men  are  to 
be  tried  for  what  they  have  not  done,  then  resort  must  be  had  to  this 
new  .court  of  high  commission  at  Washington,  and  to  a  jury  of  office- 
holders." 

"But  where,"  asked  Douglas,  "is  the  warrant  of  which  you  speak?" 

"That  I  cannot  exactly  say,"  said  B — .  "I  am  not  even  sure  that 
it  is  yet  in  existence.  But  that  it  is,  or  will  be,  is  certain.  I  need  not 
explain  to  you  my  means  of  knowledge.  Your  uncle  is  acqti 
with  them,  and  knows  that  what  T  tell  yoy.  is  certain.  The  transac- 
tions of  the  election  day  will  be  made  the  subject  of  a  capital  charge, 
and  it  is  intended  to  Convey  you  both  to  Washington  to  answer  it  there. 
1  am  come  to  advise  you  both  of  this,  that  you  may  determine  what 
course  to  pursue." 

"My  course  is  plain,"  said  Douglas.  "To  mqpt  the  charge  and  refute 
it." 

"Are  you  aware,"  said  B.,  "who  is  the  Judge  of  this  court  of  high 
commission?" 

'•  I  think  1  have  somehow  understood  that  it  is  Judge  Baker." 

'•The  lather  of  your  friend*  Philip  linker,  the  younger*  Now  are 
you  aware  that,  but  a  few  days  before  the  court  was  constituted,  ha  and 
either  judges  were  consulted,  and  declared  it  t"  he  mi  grossly  unconsti- 
tutional that  no  judge  would  preside  in  it" 

"I  see  that  so  it  should  he  declared,  but  did  not  know  that  such 
opinion  had  been  given." 

'■  Yet  so  it  was.     Now  where,  do  you  think,  Ihe  considerations 
found  by  whicb  the  bouorable  gentleman's  honorable  scruples  were 

me?     Of  course,  you  cannot  conjecture.     Sfou  would  find 
too  late)  if  you,  by  placing  yoursi  it  in  i,i-  power,  afforded  him  an  op- 
portunity of  gratifying  the  malice  of  his  son,  t 
cowardice  and  ineanm   •      1  u  duubt  my  moans  "I  know 

Your  uncle  told  me  nothing  of  young  Whiting's  communication  to  the 


the  partisan  lbadbb. 

■  •      V  •  I  knewpf  it.     I  !.  I    B — .  not  regards 

izement  of  Donglas, "  that,  but  for  that  l<  would 

Dot  have  been  permitted  to  resign;  and  that  Judge   B  <  ruplcs 

ling  in   this   new  court  ■  bj  hushing  an  the 

enquiry,  which  would  have  dish  roored  hia  Bon,  and  substituting  :i  pro- 
«. - . . « 1 1 1 1  _r  which  should  Dumber  you  among  the  victims  of  his  power, 
without  implicating  the  name  of  his  Bon.  As  to  my  means  of  know1 
ledge,  when  knaves  can  get  honest  men  to  be  the  instrunx  nts  of  1 1 1 < ■  i r 
villainy,  they  ma)  ex  peel  not  to  be  betrayed.  Until  then,  they  must 
bear  the  fate  of  all  who  work  with  ^  1 1 : i r j .  tools." 

"There  can  he  no  doubt,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  "of  the  fate  pre] 
for  us,  should  we  Call  into  the  hands  of  our  enemh  ~.     To  be  summoned 
to  trial  befoie  a  court  constituted  for  the  sole  purpose  of  entertaining 
;  itions  which  cannot  be  sustained  elsewhere,  is  to  be  notified  of  a 

sentence  already  pa-sod.  To  obey  Buch  a  summons,  is  to  give  the  neck 
to  the  halter.  The  question  is,  then,  what  is  to  1"'  done  t.>  evade  it. 
( )nr  friend  1! —  proposes  that  your  broth  r  and  sist<  r  be  Bent  boo 

i  and  I,  and  my  family,  withdraw  to  Carolina.     How  Bay  you? 

■■  I  have  the  same  difficulty  that  I  bad  the  other  day,  about  tendering 
my  resignation.  •  But,  in  this  instance,  i:  appears  with  more  fore*  To 
fly  from  justice  is  always  tak<  n  as  <  videncc  of  conscious  guilt" 

•■  \i  nit  tliat."  said  Mr.  Tr<  ror,  4>  I  feel  small  concern  on  my  own  ac- 
count. ;;-  I  .-,  rtainly  mean  to  commit  what  all  who  deny  the  bov<  reigoty 
of  Virginia  will  rail  high  treason." 

"Then  why  not  take*up  arms  at  once?  I  have  mueh  misunderstood 
appearances,  Bioce  I  have  been  lore,  if  the  means  not  of  evading,  hut 
resisting  this  attack,  are  riot  already  organist  1  " 

"The  time  is  not  yet  ripe  for  action,"  said  Mr.  Trevor.  "Had  it 
been  so,  I  should  not  have  waited  notil  my  own  load  was  in  jeopardy, 
before  Btrikiog  the  blow.  Nor  should  my  own  personal  danger  precipi- 
tate it." 

"  Hut  what  Cttcr  time  can  there  be  to  call  the  people  to  arms,  than 
at  this  moment,  when  their  minds  an   heated  by  the  late  violent  iova- 

■ion  of  the  elective    franchise '.'      What    mole    exciting   spectacle    could 

he  presented  than  the  sight  of  a  citizen  seized  as  a  traitor,  and  dragged 

away  in  chains,  to  answer,  hei'orc  an  unconstitutional  tribunal,  for  maiii- 
tainiiiL'  this  franchise  ?" 

'•'Are  i/, m  then  prepared  to  resist,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  tins 
unconstitutional  warrant,  as  a  thing  void  and  of  no  authority  ." 

"I  am"  replied  Douglas,  with  energy.     "And  I  will  say  more," 

said  he,  speaking  with  solemn  earnestness.  "  I  have  seen  enough  to 
make  my  duty  plain;  and  I  am  prepared  to  go  as-  far  as  you,  yourself, 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  109 

in  asserting  and  maintaining  the  sovereignty  of  Virginia  at  every  haz- 
ard." 

"That  being  the  ease,"  said  B — ,  "as  you  will  not  disagree  about 
the  end,  you  must  not  differ  about  the  moans,  nor  lose  time  in  discuss- 
ing them.  We  arc  not  thinking  of  this  subject  for  the  first  time.  We 
see  the  whole  ground,  and  act-  under  the  influence  of  considerations 
which  we  have  no  lime  to  detail.  Arc  you  then,  my  young  friend,  pre- 
pared to  give  us  f o  much  of  your  confidence  as  this.  We  say  to  you, 
'Go  with  us  where  we  go,  and  trust  our  assurance  that  when  we  have 
leisure  to  explain  all,  you  will  find  our  plan  the  best.'  Are  you  con- 
tent? Are  you  now  ready  to  carry  into  execution  our  matured  plan,  so 
far  as  it  has  been  disclosed  to  you,  trusting  all  the  details  to  us?  llc- 
member — if  you  say  yes  to  this,  we  stop  no  more  to  deliberate  or  ex- 
plain until  we  are  in  a  place  of  safety.  Until  then,  you  place  yourself 
under  orders;  and  you  have  learned  how  to  obey.  How  say  you? 
Are  you  content?" 

Douglas  paused,  reflected  a  minute  or  two,  and  then.  extending  a 
hand  to  Mr.  B— t-,  ami  one  to  his  uncle,  said  earnestly:  "I  am;  com- 
mand, and  I  will  obey.     But  which  of  you  am  I  to  obi  y  .' " 

"Mr.  B — ,"  siid  Mr.  Trevor,  "under  whose  command  I  now  place 
myself." 

"Then  to  business,"  said  B — .  "  Warn  your  brother,  at  once,  of  the 
necessity  of  returning  home  with  your  sister,  and  Fee  that  he  makes 
the  needful  preparations  for  his  departure  at  an  cady  hour  to  morrow. 
The  boy's  heart  will  have  some  hankerings  that  will  make  it  necessary 
for  you  to  look  after  him,  and  urge  him  to  exertion.  You,  Trevor, 
must  expedite  the  arrangements  for  the  rcjnoval  of  your  family.  1 
the  word  to  Margaret  and  Delia.  You  may  trust  much  to  their  effi- 
ciency. I  am  afraid  we  cannot  expect  much  more  from  my  poor  little 
Lucia,  just  now,  than  from  Arthur.  Now,  Trevor,  give  me  the  keys  "I' 
your  arm-room;  let  Douglas  join  me  there,  as  soon  as  he  baa  set  Ar- 
thur to  work,  and,  in  the  meantime,  send  Jack  to  me  there.  I  will 
play  quartermaster,  while  you  make  arrangements  for  the  muster  of 
the  black  watch." 

"The  black  tcatchl"  said  Douglas,  with  an  enquiring  look. 

"  Aye,"  said  B — ,  "The  tidier.  <llm — the  trusty  \,'<dy  guard  of  a  Yir- 
ginio  gentleman.     His  own  faithful  si.:-. 

"The  slave-!"  said  Douglas,     "What  use  shall  we  have  for  thi 

"I  have  no  time  to  answer  now/' Said  1! — .  "Ask  me  that  when 
you  come  to  me  in  the  arm-room.  At  present  yon  most  Stb  tid  to  Ar- 
thur.     We  have  m>  time  to  1" 

Douglas  now  remembered  bis  enlistment,  and  betook  himself,  with 
the  prompt  alacritj   of  an  old  so'dier,  to  the  fulfilment  of  lii.-  of 


110  T1IK    FAP.7I 


CII  A  PTBB  X  XII. 

■  I  iir.vc  aarsed  K ;  in  ;ii  tli>  withered  breast,"  paid  the  olil  woman,  II 
hi-r  bftada  en  licr  bosom  as  il    pressing  an   infant   in   it  ;   "tuid    man  can  never 
bat  woma  the  bairn  !■.  lir^t  In  Id  in  her  bosom." 

Scott. 

Poob  Autiuk!  15 — had  predicted  too  truly  that  his  heart  would 
have  some  hankerings  at  tin'  thought  of  >  leaving  tin'  house  where  he 
bad,  "1  late,  spent  s<>  many  pleasant  boms.  Ji  is  mi  long  that  I  have 
eajd  nothing  about  him,  that  the  reader  may  think  him  forgotten,  or 
imself,  have  forgotten  tfciat  there  was  such  a  person.  Be  had; 
in  truth,  do  pa$  in  the  transactions  of  which  we  have  been  speaking* 

.  -  at  that  Li  mo  of  life  when' the  mind,  chameleon  like,  taki 
hue 'from  surrounding,  objects.     Il<  young  to  be  advised  with, 

or  trusted  with  important  seerets.     I   hare  already  mentioned  tl 
the  da-.  I<  otion,  he  bad  been  detained  at  home  by  indisposition. 

l>ut  he  had  beard  of  the  occurrences  of  that  day;  and  be  was,  more- 
over,  uncon  ■  influences  from  every  member  of  the 

family,  all  I  •  the  same  point.     Least  apparent,  but   not   leaai 

efficacious,  ■  tin  Lueia.     They  were  of  that  age  when 

.-  by  mi  re  contact?.  With  thought 
ut  love,  hut  without  thinking  of  it,  they  had  1  ecome  deeply  enamored 
of  each  other.  The  thing  come  about  bo  simply  and  bo  naturally,  that 
the  result  alone  needs  to  !"•  tulJ.. 

They  were  t>>  part,  and  the  thought  of  parting  Brat  made  them  hoth 
feel  that  something  was  the  matter.  Thej  talked  of  tin-  separation, 
and   Lucia  shod  Mime  tears.     Arthur  kissed  them  *>ih  and  tin  d  she 

smiled  ;  and  then  Bhe  inept  again  ;   and    then    they  agreed  never  to  for- 
li  Other;   and    BO  on,  till    the  BOCret  was   out,  and    'heir  mi 

hearts  were  fondly  plight*  d. 

Such  things  do  not  pass  unmarked  by  older  eyes.  The  maternal 
instinct  of  Mrs.  Trevor,  and  the, sagacity  of  her  husband,  had  detected 
that  of  which  the  parties  themselves  were  unconscious.  And  now,  in  the 
fi  a*  hours  that  they  were  to  remain  together,  occupied  as  the  old  peo- 
ple were*  with  important  engagements,  neither  the  glowing  cheek*,  the 
swimming  eye,  and  the  abstracted  look  of  Lucia,  n<>r  the  rapt  enthusi- 
asm of  Arthur's  countenance,  escaped  observation.  But  as  no  dis- 
closure was-  made  vi'  what  had  passed,  their  fancied  privacy  was  not  in- 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  Ill 

vadcd  by  question  or  insinuation.  They  were  too  young  to  marry,  and 
secret  love  is  so  sweet!  Why  not  let  the  innocent  creatures  enjoy  the 
idea  that  their  attachment  was  not  suspected  ?  Their  friends  smiled 
indeed,  hut  tenderly,  not  significantly.  To  them,  they  did  but  seem 
kinder  than  ever ;  and  that,  at  a  moment  when  they  were  most  sensi- 
ble to  kindness,  and  most  ready  to  reciprocate  its  In  this  heart-search- 
ing sympathy,  Arthur  found  himself  indissolubly  united  to  tjic  destiny, 
the  opinions,  and  the  feelings,  whatever  these  might  be,  of  those  who 
so  loved  his  dear  Lucia. 

But  I  am  not  writing  a  love  tale.  I  am  but  interested  that  the 
reader  should  understand  by  what  process  two  principal  actors  in  th« 
•scenes  of  which  I  am  about  to  speak,  were  diverted  from  a  zealous  de- 
votion to  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  in  which  they  had  been 
educated,  to  a  devotion  yet  more  enthusiastic  in  the  cause  of  Virginia. 
Enough  of  them  has  been  seen  to  show  that  I  must  be  anxious  to  vin- 
dicate them  from  any  charge  of  inconsistency.  I  trust  the  reader 
enters  into  this  feeling,  and  deems  them  worthy  of  it.  If  he  requires 
any  farther  account  of  the  causes  which  wrought  so  great  a  change,  I 
have  none  to  give.  It  was  through  their  eyes  and  hearts  that  convic- 
tion entered.  Outrage  to  the  laws ;  outrage  to  the  freedom  of  elec- 
tion ;  outrage  to  one  respected  and  beloved ;  left  nothing  for  reason  to 
do.  Doubtless  much  had  been  said  to  them  by  their  uncle  and  31  r. 
B — ,  in  explanation  of  the  great  principles  of  the  American  Union, 
which  had  been  trampled  on  by  the  Federal  Government.  But  I  am 
not  aware  that  any  ideas  were  presented  to  their  minds  on  this  subject, 
with  which  the  reading  public  had  not  been  familiar  for  twenty  yean 
before,  and  I  shall  not  repeat  them  here.  Let  us  rather  accompany 
Douglas  to  3Ir.  Trevor's  magazine  of  arms.  It  was  in  a  garret  room, 
where  he  found  Mr.  B —  busy  in  the  examination  of  arms,  and  | 
turning  out  ammunition,  with  the  aid  of  Jack. 

'•  You  come  in  good  time,"  said  IJ — .  "  Here  is  work  that;  yon 
understand.  Come  help  me  to  examine  these  arms,  and  sec  that  they 
are  all  clean,  dry,  and  well  flintcd." 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do  with  them  ?"  asked  Douglas,  lending  a 
hand  to  the  work. 

"  Wejwopose,"  said  B — ,  "  to  arm  the  negroes  in  defence  of  thiir 
mast<  r,  in  case  of  need.-' 

"  But  what  need  can  there  be,  if  we  Bet  out  for  Carolina  in  the 
morning  ?" 

"They  may  be  wanted  before  morning/'  said  B — ,  coolly.     "Lieu- 
tenant Johnson  left  thi  county  on  the  night  of  the  election, and  ti 
led  express  to  Washington.     His   intelligence  was  anticipated,  and,  UO 


112  the   PARTISAN    I 

ere  :ul  readj  before  be  £ot   there.     1   dan 
they  bad  a  ready-made  affidavit  f>  r  him  to  b*  plot  was 

.  thai   I   was  hardly  advised  of  it  in  time.     But  I 
it  i-  not  too  late.     I  have  no  mind  to  fire  tbe  train  I 

would  rather  you  should  l'<  t  off  peaceably,  bat,  if  we  do  come  to  bl 
I  Bhall  take  care  thai  the  blue-coats  have  tb<  it.'" 

•  Y  u  move  in  this  busini  bb,"  said  Douglas,  "  like  a  man  nol  ui 
to  danger.     I  presume  you  have  taken  the  precaution  to  warn  in  the 
hardy  and  resolute  neighbors,  wbom  I  bsw  Btand  by  my  uncle  the  other 
day." 

■Kyi  i  means,"  answered  B.     "Were  we  so  minded,  we  could  com- 
mand a  force  that  would  demolish  any  that  will  be  Bent  against  us., 
1-5 tit  i;  is  not  desirable  to  show  the  Btrebgth  of  our  hand.     1  should  be 
glaj],  if  possible,  that  the  temper  of  the  people  were  unsuspected.     At 
the  same  time,  there  is  an  exhibition  to  be  made,  which  will  have  a 
good  effect  on  friend  and  foe, — I  mean  an  exhibition  of  the  staunch 
loyalty  and  heart-fell  devotion  of  the  .■-lave  to  his  master.     We  must 
show  that  that  which  our  enemies,  and  some  even  of  ourselves,  con- 
sider as  our  \\'  akn<  ss,  is,  in  truth,  our  Btrength." 
!'  Is  such  your  own  clear  opinion?"  asked  Douglas.     "I  have  lived 
)_  in  the  North,  thai   1  have  imbibed  too  many  of  the  ideas  that 
But)  on  this  point,  it  appears  to  me  that  they  must 
right" 

■•  \.  i  1  •.■  1  there  long  enough,"  Baid  B — ,  "  to  forget  your 

earliest  ai  -t  attachments.     \  <m  had  a  black  nurse,  I  presume. 

Do  ypu  love  her?" 

'"My  mammy!"  exclaimed  Douglas;  "to  be  Bure  I  do.  1  should 
be  the  m  •  ful  creature  on  earth,  if  I   did  not  love  one  who 

me  lik<-  a  mother." 
"And  your  foster-brother?"  asked   1!     ;  "and  his  brothers  and 

I  it.  n<>t  tin  -v.  t<>".  1"\  e  him  tin  ir  mother  loves  so  fondly ':" 
••  1  have  no  doubt  they  do,  cspeciully  as  1   have  always  been  kind  to 
them.'' 

"From  these,  then,  I  presume,  you  would  (ear  nothing.  Then 
your  brothers  and  sisters.  They,  too,  have  their  mammies  and  foster- 
brethren.  A.moDg  you,  you  must  have  a  btrong  hold  on  the  hearts  of 
many  of  your  latin  r's  slaves.  Would  they,  think  you,  taken  as  a  body, 
i  iinsl  your  family  ?" 

••  I  have  not  the  least  apprehension  that  they  would,"  replied 
Douglas. 

••  Y 1 1  they,  thus  considered,  are  one  integral  part  of  the  great  black 
family,  which,  in  all  its  branches,  is  united  by  similar  ligaments  to  the 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  113 

great  white  family.  You  have  the  benefit  of  the  parental  feeling  of  the 
old  who  nursed  your  infancy,  and  watched  your  growth.  You  have 
the  equal  friendship  of  those  with  whom  you  ran  races,  and  played  at 
bandy,  and  wrestled  in  your  boyhood.  If  sometimes  a  dry  blow  passed 
between  you,  they  love  you  none  the  less  for  that  j  because,  unless  you 
were  differently  trained  from  what  is  common  among  our  boys,  you 
were  taught  not  to  claim  any  privilege,  in  a  fight,  over  those  whom  you 
treated  as  equals  in  play.  Then  you  have  the  grateful  and  admiring 
affection  of  the  little  urchin  whose  head  you  patted  when  you  came 
home,  making  him  proud  by  asking  his  name,  and  his  mammy's  name, 
and  his  daddy's  name.  These  are  the  filaments  which  the  heart  puts 
out  to  lay  hold  on  what  it  clings  to.  Great  interests,  like  large 
branches,  are  too  stiff  to  twine.  These  arc  the  fibres  from  which  the 
tics  that  bind  man  to  man  are  spun.  The  finer  the  staple,  the  stronger 
the  cord.  You  will  probably  see  its  strength  exemplified  before  morn- 
ing. There  are  twenty  true  hearts  which  will  shed  their  last  drop,  be- 
fore one  hair  of  your  uncle's  head  shall  fall." 

"  You  present  the  matter  in   a  new  light,"  said  Douglas.     "I  wish 
our  northern  brethren  could  be  made  to  take  the  same  view  of  it." 

"Our  northern  bretJtren,  as  you  call  them,"  said  B — ,  "  never  can 
take  this  view  of  it.  They  have  not  the  qualities  which  would  enable 
them  to  comprehend  the  negro  character.  Their  calculating  selfish- 
ness can  never  understand  his  disinterested  devotion.  Their  artificial 
benevolence  is  no  interpreter  of  the  affections  of  the  unsophisticated 
heart.  Tliuy  think  our  friend  Jack  here  to  be  even  such  as  themselves, 
and  cannot,  therefore,  conceive  that  he  is  not  ready  to  cut  his  master's 
throat,  if  there  is  any  thing  to  be  got  by  it.  They  know  no  more  of 
the  feelings  of  our  slaves,  than  their  fathers  could  comprehend  of  the 
loyalty  of  the  gallant  cavaliers  from  whom  we  spring;  and  for  the  same 
reason.  The  generous  and  self-renouncing  must  ever  be  a  riddle  to 
the  selfish;  The  only  instance  in  which  they  have  ever  seemed  to 
understand  us,  has  been  in  the  estimate  they  have  made  of  our  at- 
tachment to  a  Union,  the  benefits  of  which  have  all  been  their.-,  the 
burthens  oura.  reverse  the  case,  and  they  would  haw  dissolved  the 
partnership  thirty  yean  igo.  Hut  they  have  presumed  upon  the  dif- 
ference 1 1  bween  as,  and  heaped  oppression  on  oppression,,  until  we  can 
bear  no  more.  But,  when  we  throw  off  the  yoke,  they  will  still  not 
understand  as.  Thej  will  impute  to  as  Done  bat  selfish  motiv< 
take  un  note  of  flu-  scorn  and  loathing  which  their  base  abase  of  our 
feeKngS  has  awakened.  Would  tin  v  but  forbear  so  much  M 
not  to  force  as  to  bate  and  despise  them,  the)  might  still  mx 
their  hewers  of  wood   ind  drawen  Bnt   be   who 

8 


114  HIE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

where  he  loves,  will  give  nothing  where  he  detests.     But  this,  too,  is  a 
riddle  to  them." 

"I  must  own,"  said  Douglas,  "  that  these  ideas  arc  new  to  me,  too." 

"Not  the  ideas,  but  the  application  of  them.  Three  months  ago, 
y«,u  wore  the  devoted  soldier  of  Martin  Van  Burem  Had  you  then 
believed  him  capable  of  a  conspiracy  so  base  as  that  which  has  I 
plotted  against  your  honor  and  life,  could  you  still  have  served  him  '!" 

"  I  should  still  have  wished  to  serve  my  country,"  replied  Dooglttj 
"  but  I  should,  prub.ibly,  have  doubted  whether  I  could  have  served 
her  in  serving  him." 

••  And  do  you  think  you  would  view  the  matter  differently,  had  an- 
other been  the  intended  victim,  and  not  yourself?" 

u  I  trust  not.  My  personal  concern  in  the  affair,  I  think,  has  done 
no  more  than  to  emancipate  mc  from  my  thraldom.  But  the  display  of 
his  character  is  what  makes  me  detest  him;  and  the  seems  of  the 
election  day  have  opened  my  eyes  to  the  wrongs  and  the  rights,  and 
the  interests  of  Virginia.  The  scales  have  now  fallen  from  them,  and 
I  am  impatient  for  the  day  when  I  may  apply  in  her  service  the  lessons 
learned  in  the  school  of  her  oppressors." 

"  v"*\  shall  have  your  wish,"  said  B — .  "The  flint  you  are  now  fit- 
ting may  yet  be  snapped  against  the  myrmidons  of  the  usurper." 


THE  PARTISAN   LEADER.  115 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Otric — How  is  it,  Laertes  1 

Laertei — Wliy  as  a  woodcock  to  my  own  spring,  Osric. 

ShakspkarK. 

While  this  conversation  waa  going  on,  the  arms  had  been  all  ex- 
amined, loaded,  and  ranged  against  the  wall,  and  due  portions  of  pow- 
der and  ball  allotted  to  each  firelock.  Their  work  being  nearly  com- 
pleted, Douglas  was  dispatched  with  some  message  to  his  uncle.  As 
he  descended  the  stairs,  he  heard,  not  without  a  smile,  the  quick  im- 
patient step  of  Arthur,  pacing  to  and  fro,  the  length  of  a  passage  lead- 
ing from  the  front  door  through  the  building.  Arthur  was  just  turn- 
ing at  the  end  next  to  the  door,  when  a  rap  on  the  knocker  arrested 
him.  The  door  was  instantly  opened,  and  he  was  heard  to  ask  some 
one  to  walk  in.  It  was  nigh*,  and  the  passage  was  dark.  Arthur  con- 
ducted the  stranger  to  the  door  of  his  uncle's  study,  which  was  his 
common  reception  room,  ushered  him  in,  drew  back,  and  having  closed 
the  door  behind  him,  resumed  his  musing  promenade. 

Douglas  went  on  suspecting  nothing.  He  was  not  aware  that  the 
servants  had  been  cautioned  against  admitting  strangers;  and  poor 
Arthur  was  not  au  fait  to  what  was  passing.  He  entered  the  room. 
His  uncle  had  risen  from  his  chair  in  the  corner  farthest  from  the 
door,  and  was  standing  behind  a  large  table,  at  which  he  usually  wrote. 
He  heard  him  say:  "Please  to  be  seated,  sir,"  in  a  voice  between  com- 
pliment and  command,  and  with  a  countenance  in  which  courtesy  and 
fierceness  were  strangely  blended.  As  the  stranger,  not  regarding  this 
stern  invitation,  continued  to  advance,  the  glare  of  the  old  man's  eye 
became  fearful,  and  he  laid  his  hand  on  a  pistol  which  lay  on  the  table 
before  him.  "Stand  back,  sir,"  said  he,  in  ^l  low  and  resolute  tone. 
"  Stand  back,  on  your  life." 

The  stranger  wore  a  long  surtout,  in  which  Douglas,  dazzled  by  com- 
ing into  the  light,  did  not  at  first  discover  theAisual  characteristics  of 
an  officer's  undress.  It  was  thrown  open  in  front,  and  the  badges  of 
his  rank  were  displayed  to  Mr.  Trevor,  wlm  itood  before  him.  He  was 
arrested  by  Mr.  Trevor's  startling  words  and  gesture,  and  wa- 
ning to  speak,  when  Douglas  exclaimed:  "  What  does  this  mean  P" 

The  stranger  turned,  extended  both  his  arms,  and  Douglas  rushed 
into  them. 


ll<)  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

••  M\  deu  Tnvr!"  "Mj  dear  Whiting  I"  were  the  mutual  t 
-  of  two  young  niL'ii,  who  had  long  been  to  each  other,  as 
brothers.  ■ 

"To  whet  "ii  earth,"  asked  Doaglas,  "do  I  owe  this  ]!  asure?" 

••  I  i  ;  the  other,  with  :i  melancholy  smile,  and  in  the  kind- 

est tunc,  while   he  still  held  the  hand  of  DowglaB)  "in  make  you 
prisoner.'' 

I  violently,. and  t ri«<l  to  disengage  his  hand ;  1". 
other  held  him  firmly  and  wen!  on:  *'15e  calm,  my  dear  fellow.  1  am 
your  friend  as  ever,  but  yet  I  do  not  jest.  You  are  my  prisoner,  on 
surd  charge  of  high  breast  □  against  the  United  States.  My  war- 
rant is  against  you  and  your  uncle.  As  it  W8I  thought  a  mi  itary  force 
might  be  wanted  to  support  the  arrest,  ^volunteered  myself  to  receive 
a  <le]  uta'iuii  from  the  marshal]  that  I  might  shield  yon  both  from  any 
indignity.     You,  on  your  part,  I  am  sure,  will  do  nothing  to  make  my 

t.a.>-k  more  painful  than   it  is.     [a  not  that  gentleman bless  me! 

where  ii  hel     Was  not  that  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor  who  just  hit  the 
room'.'" 

"  1  ii.ii  Mr.  Bernard  Trevor,"  said  a  voj/e  behind.      Whiting  tinned 

again,  and  Baw  Mr.  Trevor  standing  where  he  had  been  before.     He 

now  observed  that  there  was  a  door  beside  him.  at  which  be  had  Btep- 

:  and  returned.      "  I    am    Mr.  Bernard   Trevor,  sir.  and  run  BOrrj 

that  f  cannot  welcome,  as  1  would,  the  friepd  of  my  nephew.     You  see 

that  I  have  no mind  to  have  the  room,  and  1  therefore  hope  you  will 

•  yourself  to  accept  my  invitation  to  be  seated.     You  say  that 

yon  wish  to  shi(  Id  me  from   indignity.     Of  course,  you  will  not  un- 

irily  offer  what   I    -hall  feel  as  much.     The  hand  of  authority 

must  not  be  laid  on  tm  ." 

'•1  shall  gladlj  dispense  with  an  unpleasant  form, sir,"  said  Whiting) 

•'and  I   trust  1  shall  have  tlo'  satisfucti f  i vioeing  you  that  my 

ad,  though  painful  to  all  of  us,  i-  an  errand  i  i'  friendship." 

'■  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  sir.  I  have  heard  of  you  from  my  nephew, 
and  from  uml.  r  your  own  hand,  in  terms  that  give  lull  assurance  of 
that.  1  .-hall  he  happy,  therefore,  to  do  by  you  all  the  duties  of  hos- 
pitably. 1  merely  ask  of  you  to  L_ri\c  your  word  oi  honor,  thai,  while 
eharged  with  your  present  functions,  you  \sili  be  careful  not  to  touch 
my  person." 

"I  should  be  most  happy,"  said  the  young  man,  "to  take  by  the 
band  one  whom  I  so  highly  respect,  but  1  find  1  must  forego  that 
pleasure;  and  1  give  the  required  pledge  most  cheerfully." 

The  courteous  "Id  gentleman  now  summoned  Tom,  and  ordered  some 
refreshment  for  his  guest;  then  throwing  into  his  manner  a11  the  frank 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  117 

courtesy  of  a  polished  Virginian,  he  led  the  way  in  a  desultory  con- 
versation on  all  sorts  of  indifferent  subjects.  Half  an  hour  passed  in 
this  way,  when  Tom  appeared  and  summoned  the  gentlemen  to  supper. 

"  I  fear,"  said  Whiting,  "  I  am  abusing  my  authority  over  my  poor 
fellows  without.  I  have  a  sergeant  and  half  a  dozen  men  waiting  at  the 
gate,  on  whose  behalf  I  would  fain  invoke  your  hospitality.  But  it 
would  be  much  more  agreeable  to  me,  if  you  and  my  friend  Douglat 
will  pass  your  words  that  their  aid  shall  not  be  necessary,  and  permit 
me  to  order  them  back  to  the  next  public  house." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  replied  Mr.  Trevor,  "  that  I  cannot  do  either ; 
but  I  pray  you  to  postpone  the  discussion  until  after  supper." 

"  How,  sir  ?"  exclaimed  Whiting.  "  You  surely  do  not  mean  to  try  to 
escape. me." 

"Nothing  is  farther  from  my  thoughts,  sir,"  said  the  old  man,  with  a 
proud  smile,  "  than  to  try  to  escape  you,  or  permit  you  to  escape  me." 

u  To  escape  you,  sir  !  What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Whiting. 

"I  mean  not  to  wound  your  car  with  a  word  I  would  not  have  en- 
dured to  have  applied  to  myself.  I  will  not  say  that  you  arc  my 
prisoner;  but  I  will  say  that  we  will  leave  this  house  as  free  aB  you 
entered  it.  Come,  my  dear  sir,  while  I  endeavor  to  requite  your 
courtesy,  permit  me  also  to  appropriate  your  words,  and  say,  as  you 
said  to  Douglas,  that  I  trust  you  will  not  render  it  necessary  to  avail 
ourselves  of  our  superior  force." 

"  I  am  not  sure  you  possess  that  superiority,"  said  Whiting ;  "  I  have 
a  strong  guard  without." 

"But  they  arc  without,  and  you  are  within.  Besides,  you  will  be 
readily  excused  from  availing  yourself  of  them,  when  it  is  known  that 
they  arc  prisoners,  in  close  custody."         • 

"Prisoners!"  exclaimed  Whiting.     "To  whom?" 

"  To  my  negroes,"  said  Mr.  Trevor. 

"Regular  soldiers  prisoners  to  negroes!"  said  Whiting,  in  amaze- 
ment. "  It  is  not  credible;  and  you  manifestly  speak  by  conjecture, 
as  you  have  had  no  means  of  communicating  with  your  friends  with- 
out." 

"  I  am  not  in  tlie  habit,  young  gentleman,"  said  Mr.  Trevor,  in  a 
tone  of  grave  rebuke,  "  of  speaking  positively,  "when  I  speak  by  con- 
jecture. My  orders  were,  that  I  should  not  be  called  to  supper  until 
they  were  secured.  As  to  the  itrangeoi  m  of  the  affair,"  continued  he. 
resuming  his  cheerful  and  good-humored  smile,  "think  nothing  of 
that.  Remember  that  ni^lit  is  what  the  negroes  call  'tli<irt; 
day.'  Tlie  eagle  i-  DO  match  for  the  owl  in  the  dark.  Tlie  thing 
I  tell  you ;  so  make  yourself  easy,  and  let  me  have  the  pleasure  of  do- 


118  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

ing  the  duties  of  hospitality  by  my  nephew's  friend.    You  shall  not  be 

ly  detained.     W«  must   a-k  the   pleasure  of  your  company 

for  a  three  hours'   ride  aera«s  the  line  in  the  morning.     1   will  there 

00  a  clear  acquittance  against  all  the  responsibility  yen  may  have 
iucurred,  for  what  you  have  done,  or  left  undone:  and.  as  Bbon  I 
retnrn,  to  restrain  your  men  from  acts  of  license,  they  shall  be 

up  to  you." 

There  was  no  remonstrating  against  this  arrangement;  and  Lieuten- 
ant Whiting,  putting  the  best  face  he  could  on  the  matter,  permitted 
himself  to  be  conducted  to  .-upper. 

At  the  head  of  the  supper  table  stood.  as  Usual,  Mrs.  Trevor.      She 

1  Borne  six   inches  higher  than  common,  her  cheek  flushed,  her 
-spread,  her  eye  beaming;  yet  with  all  her  high  feelings  sub- 
dued to  the  duties  of  hospitality  and  courtesy.     She  met  and  returned 

dutation  of  Whiting  with  the  stately  grace  of  a  high-bred  lady, 
and  then  her  eye  glanced  to  her  husband  with  a  look  of  irrepressible 
pride.  His  glance  answered  it,  and,  as  they  stood  for  a  moment  facing 
each  other  at  the  opposite  ends  of  the  table,  Whiting  fell  a  sense  of 
admiring  awe,  such  as  the  presence  of  majesty  in  full  court  had  never 

inspired.  But  this  feeling,  in  a  moment,  passed  away,  with  its  <•  uise. 
The  urbanity  of  the  gentleman  and  the  suavity  of  the  lady  soon  re- 
moved all  the  painfulness  of  constraint,  and  the  evening  passed  as  it 
should  pan  between  persons  who  in  heart  were  friends. 

.Wither  Mr.  B —  nor  Arthur  made  their  appearance.  The  girls, 
indeed,  were  present.    The  air  and  meaner  of  Delia  reflected  those  of 

her  mother.  Virginia  looked  a  little  alarmed,  and  Lucia  blushing, 
tender,  and  abstracted.  The  interest  of  the  realities  that  surrounded 
her  could  not  quite  dispel  thv  visions  of  excited  fancy. 

With  these  exceptions,  which  a  stranger  would  not  observe,  every 
thing  passed  as  in  the  company  of  an  invited  and  cherished  guest,  and 
Whiting  could  not  be  sorry,  at  heart,  that  he  had  been  battled  in  his 
attempt  to  disturb  so  sweet  a  domestic  party.  The  evening  wore  away 
not  unpleasantly,  and  he  retired  to  rest  in  the  same  room  with  Douglas, 
to  guard  him,  or  be  guarded  by  him,  according  as  it  suited  his  fancy 
to  consider  himself  or  Ids  friend  a.s  the  other's  prisoner. 

A  word  of  explanation  is  due  on  the  subject  of  the  captive  guardx 
which  will  be  given  in  the  next  chapter. 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  119 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

Massa  mighty  cunning — watch  he  nigger  like  a  hawk-, 
But  nigger  like  a. owl — he  watch  massa  in  e  dark. 

Jra  Crow. 

The  first  words  which  passed  between  Mr.  Trevor  and  Lieuten- 
ant TVhitiug,  had  been  overheard  by  Tom,  who  was  in  the  act  of  leav- 
ing the  room  at  the  moment.  He  gave  the  alarm  to  his  mistress,  who, 
hastening  to  her  husband,  met  him  at  the  door,  and  just  received  from 
him  the  instructions  already  mentioned.  She  immediately  sent  for  Mr. 
fi: — ,  who,  with  Jack's  aid,  was  in  the  act  of  distributing  arms  and 
ammunition  to  the  negroes.  To  him  the  management  of  the  whole 
affair  was  committed.  No  doubt  was  entertained  that  Lieutenant  Whit- 
ing had  not  oome  unattended.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  ascer- 
tain the  force  by  which  tie  was  supported,  and  the  place  where  he  had 
posted  his  men. 

They,  meantime,  quietly  awaited  the  return  of  their  officer  at  the 
great  gate,  a  quarter  of.  a  mile  from  the  house.  Rather  as  a  point  of 
military  etiquette  than  from  an  idea  that  any  precaution  was  necessary, 
they  had  stacked  their  arms  in  form  before  the  gate,  and  stationed  u 
sentinel,  who,  with  head  erect  and  military  step,  walked  his  post  in 
front  of  them.  They  had  not  long  been  there,  before  they  heard  a 
negro's  voice,  who,  as  he  approached  from  the  house,  sung  merrily  a 
a  song,  of  which  only  the  following  lines  could  be  distinguished : 

"Peep  froo  <le  winder;  see  hreak  o'  day; 
"  Run  down  to  riber ;  canoe  gone  away. 
•  "  Put  foot  in  water;  water  mighty  cold  ; 

"  Hear  O'sur  call  me  ;  hear  Missis  scold. 
"  O  dear  !  my  dear  !   what  shall  I  do  ! 
'•My  Massa  whip  me,  cause  I  love  you." 

The  song  ceased,  and  cuffee  advanced  in  silence,  but  with  a  heavy 
swinging  step,  that  rung  audibly  on  the  hard  ground.  As  soon  as  hi? 
dusky  figure  began  to  be  distinguishable,  which  was  not  until  he  was 
f|uite  near,  he  was  arrested  by  the  sharp  challenge  of  the  sentry. 

"  High  !"  exclaimed  the  negro,  in  a  tone  of  amazement  and  alarm  : 
"  Law-Gorramity  !  what  dis  ?" 


V2'>  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

■  \!v,:„>  ["  said  the  seatin  ideally,  "  and  gire  tl  e  coun- 

'•  Whal  nch  a  ting  in  mj  life." 

■  \l\. Hi.-.  I"  repeated  the  sentry,  bringing  his  piece  down  with  a 
rattling  sound  against  hie  rial 

The  DMtal  glimmered  in  the  light  from   the  windows.     The  i 
caught  the  gleam,  and,  mlling  flat  oo  )>is  face*  roared  lustily  fur  inercy 

The  Sergeant  now  went  to  him.  raised  him  Dp,  calmed  his  fears, and, 
as  soon  as  he  could  be  made  to  understand  any  thing,  asked  if  Lien- 
tenant  Whiting  was  at  the  house. 

"  1  heal  'em  say,  sir,  one  mighty  grand  gentleman  went  there  while 
ago.  Old  Tom  say,  he  Mass  Douglas'  old  crony,  and  Mean  and  Mai 
Douglass,  and  all,  mighty  glad  to  see  him.'' 

'•  The  devil  they  are!"  said  the  Sergeant.     '•  Weil,  I  hope  they'll  be 
mighty  glad  to  sec  us,  too,     I  do  not  care  how  soon,  for  this  night  air 
is  something  of  the  sharpest;  and  'I  have  drawn  better  rations  than  w. 
had  at  that  damned  tavern.     I  say,  darker;   the  old   man  keepi 
liquor,  and  plenty  of  belly-timb  r,  d<  a't  he?" 

"Ah,  Lord!  Yes,  Massa,  I  reckon  he  dues.    Hut  it  an't  maefe   I 
abonl  it.    Old  Maasa  mighty  hard  man,  sir.     Poot  negur  don't 
see  mueh  o'  he  good  tin 

'■  But,  I  suppose,  he  gives  his  friends  a  plenty  ?" 

'•  ( Ih,  to  be  sure,  sir!  Massa  mighty  proud,  (ireat  gentleman  oome 
aee  him,  he  aint  got  nothing  too  good  fox  him.  But  poor  white  folks 
and  pool  negur  ! — pshaw  !" 

'•  A  bad  look,  out  for  us,  Roger?,"  said  the  Sergeant  to  one  of  his 
men.  "  Damn  the  old  hunks,  1  hope  he  don't  mean  to  leave  us  to 
bivouaek  here  all  night.  Well,  ire  must  wait  our  hour,  as  the  Lieu- 
tenant told  us,  and  then  he'll  come  back  to  us,  or  we  have  to  march  to 
the  house.  Damn  it!  I  shall  be  pretty  sharp  set  by  that  time,  and,  if 
it  tonus  to  that,  the  old  gentleman's  kitchen  and  wine-cellar  may  look 
out  for  a  storm." 

'•  You  talk  like  you  hungry,  Maaaa/1  said  the  negro,  in  a  tone  of 
sympathy.     "  I  mighty  sorry  1  ant  got  nothing  to  give  you." 

"  Hut  could  not  you  get  something,  coffee?  Is  there  no  key  to  your 
master's  cellar  and  smoke-house  besides  the  one  he  keeps?.  Don't  you 
think,  now,  you  could  get  us  some  of  his  old  apple-brandy  ?  1  hear  he 
has  it  of  all  agl 

•Ah,  Lord,  Massa;  dat  you  may  be  sure  of.  I  hear  old  Tom  say 
brandy  dare  older  an  he;  and  he  must  a  hundred.  'Sposc  I  bring  you 
o'  dat,  Massa,  what  you  gwine  give  me  V* 

"  Will  R  quarter  do  for  a  bottle  of  it  V 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  121 

"  Law,  Maasa  !  why  he  same  like  gold.     Half  a  dolla,  Massa !" 
.  "  Well,  bring  us  a  bottle  of  the  right  old  stuff,  mind  ! — and  you  shall 
have  half  a  dollar.     And  see,  darkee;  cannot  you  bring  us  a  little  cold 
bread  and  meat  ?" 

"I  don't  know,  Massa,  what  de  cook  say.     I  try  her." 

"Well,  go;  and,  wbi'c  your  hand  is  in,  help  yourself  well.  If  the 
liquor  is  good,  may  be  we'll  take  two  or  three  bottles." 

"  Well,  Massa,  I  try  old  Tom.  lie  keep  de  key.  Ah,  Lord  !  Old 
Massa  tink  Tom  mighty  desperate  honest;  and  he  tink  Tom  love  him 
so — better  an  he  own  self.  He  better  mind;  one  o'  dese  days  Tom 
show  him  how  dat  is." 

"  I  don't  think  you  love  him  much  yourself,  Sambo." 

"Who? — I,  Massa  ?  My  name  Jack,  sir.  Lord,  no  sir  !  What  I 
love  him  for?  Hard  work  and  little  bread,  and  no  meat  ?  No,  Maasa, 
I  love  soldier  ;  cause  I  hear  'em  say  soldier  come  after  a  while,  set  poor 
nigur  free." 

"  That  is  true  enough.  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  we  set  you 
all  free  from  these  damned  man-stealers.  How  would  you  like  to  go 
with  us?" 

"  Lord,  Massa,  you  joking.  Go  wid  you?  I  reckon  the  old  man 
find  it  right  hard  to  get  somebody  to  saddle  his  horse  if  all  our  folks 
was  here." 

"  Well,  cuffee,  the  old  man's  in  hockley  by  this  time;  and  when  we 
march  him  off  in  the  morning,  you  will  have  nobody  to  stop  you.  But 
bring  us  the  brandy,  and  then  we'll  talk  about  it." 
.  "Ees,  Massa!  tank  ye,  Massa!  But,  Massa,  I  got  two  boys  big  as 
me,  and  my  brother,  and  my  wife,  and  all;  I  don't  want  to  leave  them. 
And.  Maasa,  my  boys  got  some  apples.     You  want  some,  sir?" 

' "  To  be  sure  I  do.     Bring   them  along;  but  mind  and   bring  the 
brandy,  at  all  events." 

The  negro  disappeared,  and  the  soldiers  occupied  themselves  in  dis- 
cussing the  means  of  making  a  profitable  speculation  on  their  dispo- 
sition to  leave  their  master.  They  were  still  on  this  topic  when  they 
heard  Jack  returning,  with  several  more.  One  brought  a  chunk  of 
fire;  another  a  basket  of  apples;  another  one  of  eggs;  a  fourth  came 
provided  with  some  cold  provision!  ;  .lack  himself  brandished  a  cou- 
ple of  bottles  of  1  Tandy  ;  and  one  of  his  boys  brought  a  pint  of  water 
and  a  tin  cup.  The  liquor  was  tasted,  approved,  paid  for,  and  eagerly 
swallowed.  A  torch  of  lijit-wood  being  kindled,  a  chaffering  com- 
menced, interrupted  by  occasional  alltisiooa  to  the  interesting  subjects 
of  slavery,  hard  masters,  ami  emancipation.  The  brandy,  ho* 
chiefly  engaged  the  attention  of  the  soldiers.     The  sentry,  whose  duty 


122  THB    PARTISAN    LKADBJt. 

was  but  formal,  was  permitted  to  join,  as  the  guns  were  but  ■  few  feet 
<ifT.  ju-t  without  tbe  {rate,  which  stood  open.  The  light  of  the  torch 
glittered  strongly  00  the  arms,  ami  seemed  to  make  all  things  distinct, 
while  in  fact  its  unsteady  flickering  did  little  inure  than  dazzle  their 
The  negro  held  it  aloft,  and.  as  if  to  brighten  the  Maine,  OOOtr 
rionallj  waved  it  to  and  fro.  Suddenly  it  dropped  from  his  hand  into 
the  pail  of  water,  and  in  an  instant  the  blackness  of  impenetrable  dark- 
ness shrouded  every  eye. 

At  the  same  moment,  a  heavy  trampling,  as  from  a  rush  of  many 
feet,  was  heard  without  the  gate,  and  a  shivering  olash  from  the  stack 
of  arms,  as  if  it  had  fallen  down.  The  soldiers  groped  their  way  to- 
wards it  feeling  where  they  supposed  it  to  be.  They  felt  in  vain.  They 
winked  hard,  as  if  to  free  flieir  eyes  from  the  blinding  impression  1<  ft 
by  the  flaring  light,  then  opened  them  and  looked  about.  .Indue  their 
astonishment,  when,  as  they  begun  to  recover  their  sight,  they  found 
themselves  surrounded  by  a  dusky  ring,  from  which  issued  a  voice,  not 
unlike  that  of  their  friend  Jack,  which  informed  them,  in  good  English, 
that  tiny  were  prisoners.  The  prick  of  a  bayonet  on  one  or  two  who 
endeavored  to  pass  through  the  circle,  convinced  them  that  suoh  was  the 
fact;  and,  after  a  short  parley,  they  permit!)  d  themselves  to  be  marched 
off,  ami  safely  stowed  away  in  a  strong  l  Qt-houm. 

I  would  not  have  the  nadir  give  the  negroes  the  eredit  of  this 
stratagem.  It  had  been  devised  by  H — ,  who  knew  that  he  could  de- 
pend on  the  address  and  fjuick  wit  of  -Ink  fur  drawing  the  soldiers 
into  the  snare.  All  that  part  of  the  business  had  been  left  to  his  own 
discretion.  As  soon  as  he  had  secured  the  amicable  reception  of  him- 
self and  a  few  others,  the  rest,  dividing  into  two  parties,  left  the  house, 

and.  Crossing  tin-  fence  at  some  distance  from  the  gate,  and  On  each 
side  of  it,  advanced  stealthily  toward  it.  Here  they  met,  and  having 
arranged  themselves  for  a  sudden  rusb  on  the  stack  of  arms,  an  agreed 
signal  was  given  by  a  negro  who  ptwieosod  a  faculty  of  mimicking  the 
voices  of  all  animals.  As  sunn  as  tin'  light  was  extinguished,  the  neces- 
sary Dumber*  rushed  forward  to  the  object  on  which  their  eyes  had  been 
fixed;  seised  the  arms,  and,  falling  back,  ranged  themselves  in  a  half 
circle  outside  of  the  gate.  Those  who  bad  been  with  the  soldiers,  and 
who  all  wore  concealed  arms,  closed  in  behind  them,  and  completely 
hemmed  them  in.  ]} — ,  in  the  mean  time,  who  had  his  reasons  for  not 
Wishing  to  be  seen,  kept  aloof;  and,  as  soon  as  he  knew  that  the  sol- 
diers wen  secured,  returned  to  the  house.  There,  too,  he  took  care 
not  to  show  himself ;  and  Arthur  was  advised  that  he  should  not,  by 
making  his  appearance,  at  all  involve  himself  in  what  had  been  done. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  123 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

• 

And  even  there.  It i s  eye  being  big  with  tears, 
Turning  his  face,  lie  put  his  hand  behind  him, 
And,  with  affection  wbndrous  sensible, 

He  wrung  Bassanio's  hand,  and  ?o  they  parted. 

SlIAKSPEARE. 

At  daylight  all  was  in  motion.  Arthur  and  Virginia,  being  affec- 
tionately dismissed  by  their  friends,  were  first  upon  the  road,  before 
Lieutenant  Whiting  was  awake.  Much  of  the  night  had  been  spent 
in  preparations,  and  long  before  sunrise  Douglas  handed  his  aunt  and 
cousins  into  their  carriage.  His  uncle  mounted  the  barouche,  with 
Jack  for  driver,  by  whose  side  old  Tom  was  placed ;  while  the  lady's 
maid  took  her  seat  by  her  single-minded  master  with  a  freedom  from 
which  an  auiulgainationist  would  have  drawn  the  most  pleasing  infer- 
ences. No  other  white  person  was  seen ;  but  a  body-guard  of  twenty 
negroes,  well  armed,  and  mounted  on  plough  horses,  some  saddled, 
some  cushioned,  and  some  bare-backed,  surrounded  the  carriages  and 
baggage-wagon.  In  the  midst  rode  Douglas  and  his  friend  on  horse- 
back. 

"  You  sec,"  said  Mr.  Trevor  to  Whiting,  as  he  took  his  place  in  the 
barouche,  "  that  the  part  these  faithful  creatures  took  in  last  night's 
work,  drives  them  into  exile  as  well  as  me.  I  must  not  leave  them  be- 
hind to  be  the  victims  of  baffled  malice.  What  is  to  become  of  my 
plantation,  is  a  question  of  less  importance.  T  suppose  T  may  say  with 
Cincinnatus,  when  honor  was  forced  on  him  as  it  is  on  me,  my  fields 
must  go  unfilled  this  year !  You  see  here,  sir,  my  whole  male  force. 
Not  one  proved  recreant." 

"  This  affair  is  'altogether  unaccountable  to  me,"  said  Whiting  to 
Douglas,  as  they  moved  off  together;  "  and  this  the  ftUttgl  >t  feature 
of  the  whole.  Do  men,  then,  not  without  motives,  and  against  all  as- 
signable motives  ?" 

"I  asked  the  same  question  myself  last  night/1  said  Douglas,  "and 
was  referred  to  coming  events  for  the  answer.  I  was  partly  taught,  al 
the  same  simo,  to  aocount  for  what  I  was  told  to  ex] •■ 

"And  how  can  it  be  accounted  fijrf 

"I  cannot  say  1  have  my  lesson  perfect;  but  something  was  said 
about  the  difference  of  character  produced  by  peculiar  training,  and 


124  Tin:    PARTISAN    LBADIR. 

if  mind  formed  by  cirouiustan     -      I  'or  n  j  par    il 

re  must  be  something,  by  nature,  in  the  moral  constitu- 
tion of  the  negro,  intrinsically  different  from  the  white  man." 

u  It  would,  indeed, seem  so,"  said  Whiting,  "if  w 
what  wi    see;  I  ut,  in  that  case,  we  ma  the  authority  which 

tells  us  thai  all  are  of  one  ra<  • 

are  all  d  :  "and  dogs  can  no  more  act  with- 

out motive  than  man.  It  depends  on  .temper  ami  character  what  -hall 
be  the  motives  of  action.  The  wolf  would  be  sadly  puzzled  to  judge  ol 
the  motiv  .s  of  the  Newfoundland  dog.  May  not  circumstances,  which 
have  made  the  difference  between  them,  have  produoed  the  much  less 

difference  between  the  while  man  and  the  negro?  I  have  no  tin  asur< 
for  the  effeet  of  such  causes.  If  I  am  put  to  choose  between  rejecting 
tin  evidence  of  my  own  senses,  or  the  evidence  of  God's  word/or  the 

ttphy  whidi  teaches  that  man  is  to  be  considered  as  a  unit,  be- 
cause all  of  one  race,  philosophy  must  go  by  the  board.  It  may  be. 
that  what   is   best   fur   me.  is    hi.-:    tor    my  friend  .lack  there,  and  via 

:    hut  as  1,  u-    think.-  BO,  why  Dot  have  each  to 

Besides,  there  is  more  room  in  the  world  for  both  of  us. 
than  if  both  always  wanted  the  same  things." 

A  ride  of  a  few  hours  carried  tin'  party  across  the  line  into  North 
Carolina.  Here  they  stopped  at  the  (ir.-t  public  house;  and  Mr.  Tre- 
vor drew  nji  a  hasty  statement  of  tli  ;'  Lhe  night,  which  sin, aid 
have  the  efiect  of  acquitting  Lieut  mint  Whiting  of  all  blame,  on  ac- 
count of  his  own  escape  from  the  fangs  of  his  enemies.  In  this  he  Bel 
forth  that,  having  been  warned  of  the  intended  prosecution,  he  had 
male  his  preparations  accordingly,  and  that  the  officer  had  but  fallen 
into  a  snare  from  which  no  vigilance  could  have  saved  him.    This  lu 

signed,  and  uave,  moreover,  a  el,  ar  acquittance  to  Lieutenant  Whiting 
for  all  ho  hail  dune;  and  having  thus  placed  him.  as  far  as  depended 
on  himself,  rectus  in  atria,  he  announce. 1  to  him  that  he  was  now  at 
liberty  to  go  whither  he  would. 

''  And  now,  sir,"  said  he,  "as  the  spell  which  wauld  have  made  your 
touch  degrading  18  broken  by  the  State  line,  let  me  have  the  pleasure 
of  taking  you  by  the  hand,  not  only  as  my  nephew's  friend,  but  as  one 
who,  iii  the   extremes  id*  victory  and   defeat,  as   captor  and  as  pri 

has  borne  himself  as  became  a  gentleman." 

Saying  this,  he  extended  bis  hand,  which  Whiting  grasped  with  fer- 
vor, and  they  parted  as  friends  cordial  and  sincere. 

Douglas  accompanied  his  friend  a  short  distance  on  his  return,  the 
1.  Iter  walking  and  leading  his  horse.  They  convened  Of  the  past  and 
the  future. 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  12."> 

"I  have  been  a  volunteer  in  this  business,"  said  Whiting,  u  I  shall 
not  disguise  that  my  friendship  for  you  led  me  to  offer  my  service,  and 
I  fear  tliat  no  excuse  will  be  received  for  my  failure.  There  is  a  spirit 
somewhere  at  work,  to  which  I  will  giye  no  name,  that  will  be  implaca- 
ble at  the  thought  that  any  advantage  may  have  been  lost  by  my  re- 
spect for  your  feelings."  ' 

"I  am  afraid  it  may  prove  so,"  replied  Douglas.  "The  consequence 
may  be  Lata]  to  your  advancement  in  the  army,  and  perhaps  you  may 
be  driven  from  it,  as  I  have  been.  Should  it  be  so,  my  dear  Whiting — 
but  I  will  not  profit  so  little  by  the  example  of  delicacy  set  me  while  I 
wore  the  epaulette,  as  to  say  anything  to  you  now.  I  would  content 
myself  with  telling  you  where  I  shall  be  found,  if  I  myself  knew.  But 
shall  I  keep  you  advised  of  my  movements:" 

"  By  all  means,"  said  Whiting.  "I  shall  always  wish,  to  know  your 
fate,  whether  good  or  ill." 

"I  know  that,*'  replied  Douglas;  ''but  that. is  not  my  meaning. 
Shall  I  let  you  know  where  to  iind  me,  in  case  circumstances  should 
lead  you  to  share  my  fate  ?" 

"Don't  ask  me  that,  Trevor.  The  question  implies  ideas  which  I 
must  not  entertain.  But  should  such  a  time  as  you  suppose  ever  ar- 
rive, I  shall  know  where  to  find  you,  should  my  opinions  make  it  right' 
to  seek  you." 

"  Then,  God  bless  you,  Whiting  !  That  we  shall  meet  again,  is  sure  ; 
that  we  shall  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  the  strife  of  battle,  as,  in 
our  day  dreams,  we  have  so  often  thought  of  doing,  I  cannot  doubt." 

And  thus  parted  these  gallant  and  generous  youths — the  one  into 
exile  from  the  country  that  he  loved,  the  other  to  re! urn  to  the  service 
of  an  unthankful  master. 

A  farther  ride  of  a  few  miles  brought  our  party  to"  the  village  in 
which  Mr.  Trevor  wi.-hed  to  take  up  his  temporary  residence.  Here 
they  found  .Mr.  B — ,  who  had  been  engaged  in  investigating  the  com- 
forts and  capabilities  of  the  different  public  houses,  (fed  having  Gxed 
on  that  be  iiked  best,  met  .Mr.  Trevor  in  the  street,  and  conducted  the 
parly  to  it.  '1  lie- two  friends  soon  drew  apart  to  dtSOOSS  with  the  land- 
lord the  necessary  arrangcm<  bU  1  ir  the  e  itnforl  of  the  family  during 
their  proposed  stay. 

Whit    they  were  thus  engaged,  Don  1   himself,  after  the 

manri?ifc«p|  the  country,  in  the  bar-room,  in  which, 

theie.  was  a  motley  assemblage  ol   the  inhabitants  of  the  village, 
wlio  b    1  come  in   to  .-tare  at   and  tark  I  By 

tin    t  Douglas  had  taken  care   of  the  ladies  and  baggage,  they 

Were  u        into  the  merits  of  the  whole  party  f  and,  When  be  en 


Till;   PARTISAN    LEADER. 

the  room,  they  were  too  busy  talking  to  pay  any  attention  to  him.     The 
principal  interlocutors  were  three.     First,  a  well-tin--.  1,  nriddl 
man.  whoM  dapper  air  and  delicate  hands  bespoke  one  aoonatomed  to 
bowiDg  across  a  counter  over  lace  patterns  and  painted  mnalittlj  and 
whose  style  of  eloquence  was  exactly  adapted  to  the  praise  of  such  ar- 
ticles.    Then  there  was  a  coarse,  strong  man,  with  a  bacon-fed  look, 
plainly,  cheaply,  and   untastcfully  dressed  in  clothes  which,  by  their 
substantial'  goodness,  indicated  at  once  the  wearer's   prudence  and  the 
length  of  hi>  purse.     His  voice  was  loud,  Strong,  and  self-important, 
entirely  devoid  of  melody,  and  incapable  of  inflection  or  modulation. 
Hi-  whole  appearance  showed  him  to  be  a  substantia]  planter,  ignorant 
of  (  rerything  but  corn  and  tobacco.     A  hnge  whip  in  the  hand  of  the 
third,  together  with  his  dusty  and  travel. sailed  appearance,  denot 
driver  of  B  wagon  which  stood  before  the  door. 
Their  conversation  I  reserve  for  the  next  chapter. 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  127 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

If  shejbc  not  kind  to  me, 

What  care  I  how  kind  she  be  ?  Suckling. 

"I  cannot  say  I  like  it  altogether,  Squire,"  said  the  planter.  "  It 
may  suit  my  neighbor  Jones,  here,  well  enough  "to  have  one  of  them 
high-headed  Roanoke  planters  to  come  here  with  his  family  and  spend 
his  money.  I  dare  say  he  will  make  a  pretty  good  spec  out  of  them  ; 
but,  for  my  part,  I  would  rather  they  would  stay  at  home  and  live  un- 
der their  own  laws..  I  ha'nt  got  no  notion,  after  they  saddled  that 
damned  rascal  Van  Buren  upon  us  so  long,  that  now,  the  minute  we 
have  shook  him  off  and  made  a  good  government,  and  good  treaties, 
and  all,  they  should  be  wanting  to  have  a  sop  in  our  pan.  If  that's 
what  they  are  after,  in  rebelling  against  their  government,  I  don'f 
want  to  give  them  no  countenance.  What  we  haVe  done,  we  have 
done  for  ourselves,  and  wo  have  a  right  to  all  the  good  of  it.  They 
have  fixed  their  market  to  their  liking,  and  let  it  stand  so.  If  we  can 
get  thirty  dollars  for  our  tobacco,  and  they  cannot  get  ten,  I  reckon  we 
ha'nt  got  nobody  to  thank  for  it  but  ourselves.  I  dare  say,  now  they 
see  how  the  thing  works,  they  would  be  glad  enough  to  share  with  us, 
but  I  see  plain  enough  that  all  they  would  get  by  joining  us  wc  would 
lose,  and  may  be  more  too." 

"  You  are  right  there,  Mr.  Hobson,"  said  the  merchant ;  "  and  that 
is  not  all.  There's  an  advantage  in  buying  as  well  as  selling.  Now, 
as  to  this  Mr.  Trevor,  or  whatever  his  name  is,  coming  over  here,  and 
buying  things  cheaper  than  he  could  get  them  at  home — why,  that  he  i3 
welcome  to.  Though  you  may  be  sure,  neighbor,  I  don't  let  him  have 
them  as  cheap  as  I  sell  to  you.  But  as  to  letting  in  the  Norfolk  mer- 
chants to  all  the  advantage  of  our  treaty  with  England,  that  is  another 
matter;  for  though,  when  we  deepen  the  bar  at  Ocracock,  I  have  no 
doubt  our  town  down  there  will  b^c  another  sort  of  a  place  to  what  Nor- 
folk ever  was,  yet  if  Virginia  was  to  join  us  now,  right  away,  the  most 
of  the  trade  would  go  to  Norfolk  again,  and  they  would  put  their  goods 
there  as  cheap  as  we  get  them  here,  and  may  be  a  little  cheaper.  So 
you  see  it  is  against  my  interest  as  well  as  yours;  and  I  don't  like  the 
thoughts  of  putting  in  a  crop,  and  letting  another  man  gather  it,  any 
more  than  you  do." 


TBI    PABTIBAB    LKAHER. 

i  In-  harder  npou  me  than  any  of  job 
M  for  if  that  waa  the  case,  thai  damned  rail)  !  break  up  my 

business,  atoek  and  llute.     As  it   is,  there  never  waa  such  a  time  fox 
ning  before     [nstead  of  just  hauling  the  little  tobacoo  that  is 
to  the  end  of  the  railroad,  rtoto  1  hare  the  hauling  of  the 
ad  all,  down  to  Conn 
It  is  bard  to  say  whether  surprise  or  disgust  most  prevailed  in  the 
mind  of  Douglas  at  hearing  these  remarks.     The  idea  of  the  ad  vantages 
lobt  to  Virginia,  by  her  connexion  with  the  North,  bad  never  entered 
his  mind;  but  still  l<s>  had  he  conceived  it  possil  le  that  a  sordid  de- 
sire to  monopolize  these  advantages  ceuldT stifle,  in  the  minds  of  the 
North  Carolineans,  every  feeling  of  sympathy  with  thi  d  and 

uted  assertora  of  the  rights  of  Virginia,  The  reply  of  Mr.  11  1>- 
Bon  to  the  remark  of  the  wagoner  gave  him  a  yet  deeper  insight  into 
that  dark  and  foul  corner  of  the  human  heart  where  self  predominates 
..v.  r  all  the  better  affections. 

■•  1  dpu't  think  that's  right  fair  in  you,  wagoner,"  said  he.  "  Foil 
haul  the  Virginia  tobacoo  down  to  Commerce,  and  when  i(  gt  ta  there  it 
is  all  the  Bame  as  mine.  Now.  if  it  \  not  for  that,  I  am  not  so 
mighty  sure  hut  I VI  gel  forty  dollars  instead  of  thirty,  and  I  don't  like 
to  lose  ten  dollars  to  give  to  get  one." 

"  u  is  all  one  to  me/' said  the  wagoner.     "  You  may  just  pay  me 
,<■  for  not  hauling  that  they  pay  me  for  hauling,  or  only  half  as 
much,  and  I  will  do(  haul  another  hogshead." 
"  15ut  if  you  won't,  another  will,"  said  rTobson. 

•  Like  enough,"  replied}  the  wagoner)  "  for  all  trades  must  live  j  and 
if  them  poor  devils  gel  a  phanco  to  sell  a  hogshead  or  two,  instead  of 
leaving  it  all  to  rot.  von  ought  not  to  grudge  them  that." 

"  Certainly  not,"  s;wd  the  merchant,  ••  for  I  guess  that  whatever  they 

get,  they  take  eare  to  lay  it  all  out  in  g Is  on  this  side  of  the  line;  so 

the  money  stays  with  us  alter  all,  and  friend  Stubbs's  hauling  do< 

to  more  besides  him." 
••  I  see,"  skid  Bobson,  "how  it  docs  good  to  you,  hut  none  to  me." 
"  But  that  an't  all,  .Mr  Bobson/'  said  the  landlord,  who  had  in- 

tered  while  this  conversation  was  going  on.     "Them  hot-beaded  fel- 
Sl 

*  Tl  ■  II  look  in  vairt  on  the   map  for  the  name  of  this  place.     It 

i  ii  the  waters  of  the  Sound,  and.  doubt  lent  would  have  !>'•- 
come  a  place  of  some  oonsequenee  baa  nol  the  union  of  Virginia  t-  ibe  South* 

u  Confederacy  laid   t!i<-  foundation  for  a  <!cjjr< I   prosperity  in   N 

wbicb  bids  lair  lo  make  ii  the  iii«t  i-ity  on  tl ontinent.     The  town  oi 

i  down  with  the  necessity  which  gave  rise  to  it. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  129 

lows  over  the  line  there,  like  this  Olfl  Squire  Trevor,  will  be  getting 
themselves  into  hot  water  every  now  and  then ;  and  when  they  run 
away  and  come  to  us,  if  they  did  not  bring  no  money,  we'd  have  to 
feed  them  free  gratis  for  nothing.  Now  Stubbs  hauls  Squire  Trevor's 
tobacco  to  Commerce,  and  he  gets  a  good  price ;  and  then  he  gets  into 
trouble,  and  comes  over  here  to  stay  with  me,  and  so  he  is  able  to  pay 
me  a  good  price ;"  and  here  it  is,"  added  he,  showing  a  roll  of  notes. 

"Still,"  said  Hobson,  "I  don't  see  how  that  does  me  any  good.  If 
they  were  to  conje  here  begging,  damn  the  mouthful  I'd  give  them." 

"  Then  you  would  leave  the  whole  burden  on  the  poor  tavern-keep- 
ers," said  the  landlord. 

"  No,  I  would  not.  I  would  not  let  them  come;  or,  if  they  did,  just 
give  them  up  to  their  own  government.  If  they  had  not  a  chance  to 
be  running  over  here,  as  soon  as  they  got  into  trouble,  they  would  keep 
quiet,  and  never  get  a  chance  to  separate,  and  so  ruin  our  business, 
whether  they  joined  us  or  no." 

"Old  Rip  is  wide  awake  at  last,"  said  a  voice  from  behind;  "but  it 
is  to  his  interest  only." 

Douglas  turned  to  the  voice  of  the  speaker,  the  tone  of  which  ex- 
pressed a  scorn  and  derision  most  acceptable  to  his  feelings.  He  was 
a  tall  and  fine  looking  man,  powerfully  made,  and  inclined  to  be  fat, 
but  not  at  all  unwieldly.  The  half  laughing  expression  of  his  large, 
blue  eyes,  and  the  protrusion  of  his  under  lip,  spoke  his  careless  con- 
tempt of  those  whose  conversation  had  called  forth  his  sarcasm.  The 
attention  of  the  whole  company  was  drawn  to  him  at  the  same  moment, 
all  looking  as  if  they  wished  to  say  something,  without  knowing  wbat. 
At  length  the  wagoner  spoke,  on  the  well  understood  principle  that, 
when  men  talk  of  what  they  understand  imperfectly,  he  who  knows 
least  should  be  always  first  to  show  his  ignorance. 

"I  cannot  say  I  understand  rightly  what  you  mean,  stranger,"  said 
he;  "  but  I  guess,  by  the  cut  of  your  jib,  that  you  arc  one  of  them 
high  dons  from  South  Carolina,  that  always  have  money  to  throw  away, 
and  think  a  body  ought  never  to  care  any  more  for  himself  than  ano- 
ther. Bui  this  bunoea  don't  ennsarn  you,  no  how,  because  these  peo- 
ple don't  interfere  with  your  cotton  crop." 

"Yes,  bot  they  do.  though,"  said  Hobson  ;  u  for  if  thry  drive  me 
from  tobacco,  I  shall  make  cotton.  But  if  I  can  keep  them  nut  of  the 
tobacco  market,  1  shall  be  will  up   the   making  of  cUon  to 

South  Carolina.'' 

"  Why,  that  is    true,"  said   the   stranger,  with   a    sudden    change   of 
.  from  which  he  discharged,  in  a  moment,  ev< 
ance  of  intelligence,  but  that  which   seemed  to  reflect  the  superior  wfa- 
9 


130  THE   PARTISAN   LEAP 

|  f  Mr.  Hobson.     "  That  is  true,"  said  he,  lo 

stupid  attempt  to  tliink  ;  "I  had  DOt  thought  of  that  befoi 

A-   lie   .said    this,  lie   ,-unk   slowly  and   thoughtfully  into  a  chair,  his 

falling  far  asunder,  hid  arms  dro] ;  hi<  thighs,  bis  body 

bent  forward,  and  his  face  turned  np  toward  Mr.  EIohson,with  the  look 

of  ont  who  desires  and  expect  to  receive  important  information.    The 

whole  action   spoke  so  eloquently  to  Mr.  Hobs  >n'a  self-esteem,  that  lie 

in",  with  an  air  of  the  most  gracious  complacency. 

••  foil  see,  stranger,  just  shutting  only  a  part  of  the  Virginia  tobaooo 

the  market,  makes  a  difference  of  ten  dollars,  at   the  very  Last, 

price  "i    mine.     Now,  we  used  to  make  a  heap  of  cotton  in   this 

country,  but  we  are  all  going  t"  give  it  up  »|uitc  entirely,  and  then,  you 

sec.  it  stands  to  reason   it  will  make  a  difference  of  five  cents  a  pound, 

or  may  be  ten,  in  your  cotton." 

This  interesting  proposition  was  received  by   the  stranger  with  a 

ish  start  of  dull  surprise,  from  which  he  .-link  again  into  the  sanH 

ince  of  stolid   musing.     "To   think  what  a  Fool    I    have    1 

said  he,  after  a  long  pause.     Then.  Boratching  hi.-  head,  and  twisting  in 

hi-  chair,  he  added  :  "  You  are  right,  you  are  right;  and  th^  only  way 

:iage    the    matter  is  I 
say,  to  make  those  fellows  stay  at  homo." 

"To  he  sure  it  would,"  said  the  gratified  Ilobson;  "but  then  there 
I  many  conceited  fellows  in  the  Legislature,  with  a  fo  •!'.-  notion  in 

beads  about  taking  side-  with  them  that  cannot  help  them 
that  there  is  no  getting  anything  done."    • 

••  \V<  11,"  said  the  stranger,  "  this  gentleman  guessed  right  when  he 
Mu  I  I  was  from  South  Carolina.  So  1  don't  know  an)  thing  about  your 
laws  here.  Hut  I  suppo.se  you  have,  no  law  to  hurt  a  man  for  taking  up 
one    that   runs   away  from  the  law  in  Virginia,  and  carrying  him  hack. 

I  expect  old  Van  would  pay  well  for  them." 

Hobson   looked   hard  at  the  stranger,  and  only  a  jswered  with  that 
Compound  motion  of  the  head,  which,  partaking  at  once  of  a  sha' 
a  nod,  expressed  both  assent  and  caution. 

'I  lie  landlord  and  merchant  both  exclaimed  agaiosl  this  suggestion,  the 
one  illustrating  his  argument  by  the  freedom  with  which  his  guest  had 
ordered  wine  from  the  bar;  the  other,  by  his  former  exp<  riejlCO  of  his 
liberality  as  a   purchaser  "1'  goods  while   be  kept  store  in  Mr.  Tl 

•  i hood,  which  be  had  withdrawn  since  the  revolution.  Among 
the  bystanders  tin  re  was  no  expression  of  opinion,  but  that  sort  of 
silence  which  betokens  au  idea  that  what  has  been  said  is  well  worth 
considering. 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  131 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

Sic  vos  non  vobis. — Vmcn  . 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  B —  had  entered  the  room,  and,  hearing  the 
stranger's  voice,  placed  himself  at  the  back  of  his  chair,  looking  on 
with  a  playful  smile.     lie  now  spoke — 

"  Have  you  played  out  the  play  ?"  said  he. 

The  stranger  sprung  to  his  feet  in  a  moment,  and,  facing  B — ,  caught 
him  by  the  hand,  which  he  shook -with  an  energy  which  seemed  to 
threaten  dislocation.  The  two  then  turned  off,  and  left  the  room  to- 
gether. 

"  This  is  most  fortunate,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the  stranger ;  "  but  pray 
tell  me  how  hapj-ens  it  that  I  find  you  here  ?" 

"  Do  you  not  perceive,"  said  B — ,  "  that  I  have  a' friend  in  trouble, 
and  that  I  am  here  with  him  ?  Did  you  not  hear  the  name  of  Trevor 
just  now  ?" 

"Trevor!  No — I  did  not  distinguish  the  name  What  Trevor? 
Bernard  ?  Is  he  here  ?  In  trouble  ?  About  what  ?  I  came  this  far 
to  see  you  both,  and  not  choosing  to  go  into  A'irginia,  was  listening  to 
the  conversation  of  those  fellows,  in  hopes  to  find  some  one  among 
them  whom  I  could  trust  to  send  with  a  request  that  you  would  both 
meet  me  here." 

"Here  we  both  are,"  said  B — ,  "and  here  Trevor  is  like  to  remain 
for  a  while.  He  has  been  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  they  have 
jH'ttcn  up  a  prosecution  against  him  before  that  iniquitous  court  of  high 
commission  at  Washington,  to  hang  him,  if  they  can,  or  at  least  to 
drive  him  off." 

"  Can  you  think  him  safe  here,"  asked  the  stranger,  "  among  such 
mercenary  wretches  as  those  we  have  just  left  ?" 

"0,  yc> !  You  nmst  ii..t  judge  af  this  people  by  those  mock-worms 
The  best  of  the  three  is  a  Yankee   tin-]  edler,  turned  merchant.     'I ' 

r  two  are  the  worst  specimens  of  their  I  dare 

say  there  are  many  more  like  them,  but  there  are  fifty  gentlemen  of 
property  in  this  county  who  would  stand  by  us:  and  arc  ready,  in  tl 
individual  capacity,  to  aid  us  with  pOfM  and    -word,  whenever  we  r 
our  banner." 


132  THE    PABTK4H    I.K.M-KR. 

u  But  where  is  Trei  ger.    "lam  impatient  I 

iiim." 

"We  will  lid  V> — ;  "but  first  let  me  introduce  you  to 

a  youn,Lr  friend  of  ours,  whom  you  must  as  a  friend.     11«'  i.«  the 

of  man  we  Bhould  ch<  rish,  ai  thai,  he  has  been  in  trou- 

ble  on  tout  account     You  must  understand  that  he  was  an  officer  in 

the  United  .<!  incurred  the  mortal  displeasun 

his  master  for  not  joining  one  ol'  liis  minions  in  abuse  of  you,  when 
the  news    f  your  successful  negotiation  with  the  British  Gaverpn 
•  d." 
rlas  was  ppw  called  into  tlic  room,  and  introduced  tu  the  stranger, 
the  three  gentlemen  repaired  together  to  tin-  parlor  of  Mr.  Trevor. 
A  cordial  greeting  between  the  two  friends,  ami  a  sprightly  oonveraa- 
tion  on  various  topics,  ensued;  but  at  length    the  ladies  left  the  room, 
and  affairs  of  moment  came  under  discus 

"I  am  come,"  said  the  stranger,  "  u>  learn  your  plana,  and  to  consult 
of  the  best  means  of  affording  such  aid  as  we  can.  "When,  where,  and 
how,  do  you  mean  to  move  f" 

"  We  have  carried  the  eleotii  i     —         >  as  to  be  sure  of  a 

majority  in  the  Legislature,  if  they  oan  be  freed  from  the  presence  of 
the  federal  army.  l?nt.  unless  that  can  be  done,  <>ar  friends  here,  and 
many  others,  will  not  1"'  permitted  to  attend,  and  the  weaker  brethren 
will  be  ovcraw. 

"Of  COUl  you   wiH   attempt   that.     What  measures  do  you 

t"  bake «  ' 
••  None  that  shall  attract  observation,"  said  15 — .     "It  is  impossible, 
at  this  time*,  to  draw  together  any  fbree  which  might  not  at  once  bo 
overwhelmed  by  the  army  at   Richmond.     We  arc  therefore,  obliged 

to  lie  quiet,  ami  Buffer  our  people  t"  see    for   themselves  the  advant.\ 

i hey  are  losing.  They  are  beginning  to  understand  this.  They  per- 
ceive that  your  commercial  arrangements  are  making  their  neighbors 

in  this  State  rich,  while  they  can  sell  nothing  that  they  make,  and  are 
obliged  t"  give  double  price  for  all  they  buy.  The  abatement  of  duty 
in  the  English  porta  on  your  bobaCOO,  ami  the  corresponding  abatement 

of  your  impost  on  British  manufactures,  Is  driving  trade,  money,  and 
even  population,  to  the  South;  ami.  nothing  but  separation  from  the 
Northern  Stau  -  can  prevent  our  whole  tobacco  country  from  being  de- 
serted. This,  of  course,  will  open  the  eyes  of  the  people  in  time,  and 
\tc  hope,  that  when  the  Legislature  meets,  it  may  be  practicable  to 
draw  together,  on  the  sudden,  such  a  force  as  may  drive  the  enemy 
from  Richmond,  and  give  time  at  least  to  adjourn  to  a  place  where 
they  may  deliberate  in  safety. 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  138 

"  Is  there  any  such  place  in  the  State?"  asked  the  stranger. 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  there  is  at  this  moment,  hut  such  a  one  must 
be  provided  for  the  emergency,  should  it  arise." 

"  And  what  means  do  you  propose  to  use  for  that  purpose  ?" 

"  There  is  a  section  of  the  State,"  replied  B — ,  "where  circumstances 
enable  me  to  exert  a  powerful  influence,  and  where,  from  its  localities, 
a  partisan  corps  might  maintain  itself,  in  spite  of  the  enemy,  and  might 
give  so  decided  a  disposition  to  the  surrounding  population,  as  to  estab* 
lish  perfect  security  within  a  pretty  extensive  district." 

"But  is  there  no  danger,"  said  the  southron,  "that  such  a  corps 
would  induce  an  increase  of  the  force  at  Richmond  and  elsewhere,  and 
so  make  the  first  step  in  your  enterprise  more  difficult  ?" 

"  It  would  have  that  effect,"  said  B — ,  "  were  not  the  scene  of  action 
remote  from  Richmond,  and  unless  the  operations  of  the  corps  were  so 
conducted  as  to  create  no  alarm  for  that  place.  Of  course,  there  should 
be  no  appearance  of  concert  with  this  lower  country  ;  and,  so  far  from 
increasing  apprehension  of  our  ulterior  designs,  our  failure  to  rally  to 
the  banner  of  a  successful  leader  might  disarm  suspicion." 

"  Then  it  seems  that  all  you  want  is  a  Marion,  a  Sumpter,  or  a 
Pickens  ?" 

"  We  have  such  a  one,"  eaid  B — ,  "  and  it  is  well  that  you  are  here 
with  us  to  aid  in  consecrating  him  to  the  task.     Here  he  stands." 

As  he  said  this,  he  laid  his  hand,  solemnly,  gently,  and  respectfully. 
on  the  head  of  the  astonished  Douglas. 

"  What,  I !"  exclaimed  he.  "  For  God's  sake,  my  dear  sir,  what 
qualification  have  I  for  such  service?" 

"  Courage,  talent,  address,  and  military  education,"  said  B — ,  with  a 
quiet  smile. 

"And  where  should  I  find  men  willing  to  be  commanded  by  mo,  in 
an  enterprise  which,  of  course,  supposes  the  absence  of  all  legal  au- 
thority ?" 

"  Suppose  them  provided,"  said  B — .  "  Is  there  any  other  difficul- 
ty to  be  provided  ?" 

"I  should  still  be  bound  to  enquire,"  said  Douglas,  "what  good 
end  is  proposed,  before  I  could  agree  to  enter  on  a  course  of  conduct 
which  nothing  but  the  most  important  considerations  could  justify." 

"All   that  you   have   a  right    to   ask,  and  ITS  bound  to  understand 
clearly.    You  would  have  understood  it  long  Before  this,  but  thai 
long  as  one  shred  remained  of  the  fie  that  bound  you  to  the  sraj  of 
the  i'nitrd  States,  a  delicate  respect  to  y<>u  imposed  Bilcnce  "n  your 
uncle  and  myself.     You  now  require  that  we  show  you  some  prevailing 


134  THE    PABTISAH    LIWDKR. 

reaa  in  why  Virginia  should  detach  herself  from  the  Northern  Confcd- 

.,  and  cither  form  a  separate  State,  which  we  do  nut  propose,  or 
unite  herself  to  the  South,  which  we  do.  Is  nut  that  vuur  diffi- 
cult;. 

•It  is,"  replied  Douglas.  "I  have  long  heen  sensible  that  there 
w.  re  \i'  ws  of  the  subject  which  my  situation  had  hidden  from  me,  and 
have  frequently  lamented  (while  I  was  grateful  for)  the  resolute  rc- 
whioh  my  friends  have  maintained." 
"  Yhu  must  he  sensible,"  said  B — ,  "that  the  Southern  States,  in- 
cluding Virginia,  are  properly  and  almost  exclusively  agricultural. 
The  quality  of  their  soil  and  climate,  and  the  peculiar  character  of 
their  laboring  population,  concur  to  make  agriculture  the  most  profita- 
ble  employment  among  them.     Apart  from  the  influence  of  artificial 

es,  it  is  not  certain  that  any  labor  can  be  judiciously  taken  from 
the  soil  ft >  be  applied  to  any  other  object  whatever.  When  Lord 
Chatham  said  that  America  ought  not  to  manufacture  a  hub-nail  fur 
herself)  he  .-puke  as  a  true  and  judicious  friend  of  the  colonies.  The 
labor  necessary  to  make  the  hob-nail,  if  applied  t>>  the  cultivation  of 

earth,  might  produce  that  fur  which  the  British  manufacturer 
would  gladly  give  two  hob-nails.  By  cumin-  between  the  manufacturer 
and  the  farmer,  ami  interrupting  this  interchange  by  perverse  legisla- 
tion, the  Government  bruke  the  tie  which  bound  the  culuiiies  to  the 
mother  country. 

"  When  that  tie  WQS  severed  and  peace  established,  it  was  the  inter- 

f  both  parties  that  this  interchange  should  be  restored,  and  put 
upon  snob  o  rooting  as  to  enable  each,  reciprocally,  to  obtain  for  the 
products  of  his  own  labor  as.  much  as  possible  of  the  products  of  the 
labor  of  the  other. 

'•  Why  was  Dot  this  dune?  Because  laws  are  not  made  for  the  benc- 
lit  <4'  the  people,  but  for  that  of  their  rulers.  The  monopolising  spirit 
of  the  landed  aristocracy  in  EJngland  led  tu  the  exclusion  of  our  bread- 
stuffs,  and  the  necessities  of  the  British  treasury  tempted  to  the  levy- 
in-  o\  eie  rmous  revenue  from  uiir  other  agricultural  products.  The 
interchange  between  the  farmer  and  manufacturer  was  thus  interrupted. 
!n  part  it  was  absolutely  prevented;  the  profit  being  swallowed  up  by 
the  impost,  the  inducement  was  taken  away. 

"  What  did  the  American  Government  under  these  circumstances  ? 
]>id  they  say  to  Great  Britain,  'relax  your  corn-laws ;  reduce  your 
duties  uu  tobacco;  make  no  discrimination  between  our  cotton  and  that 
from  the  East  Indie-;  and  we  will  refrain  f'ruin  laying  a  high  duty  on 
your  manufactures,  i'ou  will  thus  enrich  your  own  people,  and  it  is 
by  no  means  sure   that   their  increased  prosperity  may   not  give  you, 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  135 

through  the  excise   and  other   channels   of  revenue,  more  than  an 
equivalent  for  the  taxes  we  propose  to  you  to  withdraw.' 

"  Did  we  say  this  ?  No.  And  why  ?  Because,  in  the  Northern 
States,  there  was  a  manufacturing  interest  to  be  advanced  by  the  very 
course  of  legislation  most  fatal  to  the  South.  With  a  dense  popula- 
tion, occupying  a  small  extent  of  barren  country,  with  mountain  streams 
tumbling  into  deep  tide-water,  and  bringing  commerce  to  the  aid  of 
manufactures,  they  wanted  nothing  but  a  monopoly  of  the  Southern 
market  to  enable  them  to  enrich  themselves.  The  alternative  was  be- 
fore us.  To  invite  the  great  European  manufacturer  to  reciprocate 
the  benefits  of  free  trade,  whereby  the  South  might  enjoy  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  its  fertile  soil  and  fine  climate,  or  to  transfer  these  advan- 
tages to  the  North,  by  meeting  Great  Britain  on  the  ground  of  prohi- 
bition and  exaction.  The  latter  was  preferred,  because  to  the  interest 
of  that  section,  which,  having  the  local  majority,  had  the  power. 

"  Under  this  system,  Great  Britain  has  never  wanted  a  pretext  for 
her  corn-laws,  and  her  high  duties  on  all  our  products.  Thus  we  sell 
all  we  make,  subject  to  these  deductions,  which,  in  many  instances, 
leave  much  less  to  us  than  what  goes  into  the  British  treasury. 

"  Here,  too;  is  the  pretext  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
for  their  exactions  in  return.  The  misfortune  is,  that  the  Southern 
planter  had  to  bear  both  burdens.  One  half  the  price  of  his  product 
is  seized  by  the  British  Government,  and  half  the  value  of  what  he 
gets  for  the  other  half  is  seized  by  the  Government  of  the  United 
States. 

"  This  they  called  retaliation  and  indemnification.  It  was  indemni- 
fying an  interest  which  had  not  been  injured,  by  the  farther  injury  of 
one  which  had  been  injured.  It  was  impoverishing  the  South  for  ihe 
benefit  of  the  North,  to  requite  the  South  for  having  been  already  im- 
poverished for  the  benefit  of  Great  Britain.  Still  it  was  '  indemnifying 
ourselves.'  Much  virtue  in  that  word  'ourselves.'  It  is  the  tan-' i 
used  'ant  to  the  dwarf  in  the  fable  ;  the  language  of  the  bra- 

zen pot  to  the  earthern  pot;  the  language  of  all  dangerous  or  interested 
friendship. 

"I  remember  Feeing  an  illustration  of  this  sort  of  indemnity  in  th( 
case  of  a  woman  who  was  whipped  by  her  husband.  She  went  com- 
plaining to  her  father,  who  whipped  her  again,  and  sent  her  back. 
1  Tell  your  husband,'  said  he,  'that  as  often  as  he  whips  mjy  daughUrt  I 
will  whip  hit  wift  "' 

"But  what  remedy   has  been   proposed  for   these  things  V  I 
Don- ' 

UA  remedy  has  been  proposed  and  applied,"  replied  B — .     "The 


I 

136  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

if  legislation  fur  the  benefit,   not  of  the  rulers,  but  of  the 

ruled." 

••  But  in  what  MOM  will  you  say  that  >mr  legislation  has  1  • 
benefit  of  the  rulers  alone  ''.     Are  we  not  all  our  own  rulen 

'•  STes/'  replied  15 — .  "  if  you  again  have  recourse  t<>  the  use  of  that 
ipreheasive  word  '  \vk,'  which  id<  most  dis 

and  binds  up,  in  the  Bame  bundle,  things  most  discordant  [f  the 
South  and  N"..rth  are  one;  if  the  Yankee  and  the  Virginian  a 
if  light  and  darkness,  b(  al  and  cold,  life  and  death,  can  all  be  identi- 
:  then  WU  arc  our  own  rulers.  Just  so,  if  the  State  will  consent  to  be 
identified  with  the  Church,  then  we  pay  tithes  with  one  hand,  and  re- 
ceive them  with  the  other.  While  the  Commons  identity  themselves 
with  the  Crown,  '  we'  do  but  pay  taxes  to  owndvet.  And  if  Virgin- 
tans  can  be  fooled,  into  identifying  themselves  with  the  Yankees — a 
I  tax-paving  minority,  with  a  fixed  tax-receiving  majority — it  will 
Still  be  the  same  thing;  and  they  will  continue  to  hold  a  distinguished 
place  among  the  innumerable  WIS  that  have  been  gulled  into  their 
own  ruin  ever  since  the  world  began.  It  is  owing  to  this  sort  of  de- 
ception, played  off  on  the  unthinking  multitude]  that,  in  the  two  fp 
countries  in  the  world,  the  most   important  int.  1  for  the 

Bt  of  lesser  interests.  In  England,  a  country  of  manufacturers, 
they  have  been  starved  that  agriculture,  may  thrive.  In  this,  a  country 
of  farmers  and  planters,  M-.y  haye  been  taxed  that  manufacturers  may- 
thrive.  Now  I  will  requite  Lord  Chatham's  well-intentioned  declara- 
Mying  that  England  ought  ii"t  to  make  a  barrel  of  flour  for 
herself.  I  say,  tOO,  that  if  her  rulers  ami  the  rulers  of  the  people  of 
America  were  true  to  their  trust,  both  Sayings  would  he  fulfilled.  She 
would  be  the  work-house,  and  here  would  be  the  granary  of  the  world. 
What  would  become  of  the  Yankee.-'.'  As  /  don't  call  them  WE,  I 
.leave  them  to  find  the  answer  to  that  question." 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  137 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

Such  is  the  aspect  of  this  shore  ; 
:Tis  Greece — but  living  Greece  no  more. 

Byrom. 

The  impression  made  on  Douglas  by  these  observations  was  so  strong 
and  so  obvious,  that  his  friend  paused  and  left  him  to  meditate  upon 
them.  Some  minutes  elapsed  before  he  made  any  reply.  When  he 
did  speak,  he  acknowledged  the  existence  and  magnitude  of  the  griev- 
ance, and  again  enquired,  with  increased  solicitude,  what  remedy  had 
been  found. 

"  You  heard  what  passed  in  the  bar-room,  just  now,"  said  the 
stranger. 

"  I  did."  replied  Douglas,  "  and  I  was  as  much  surprised  at  the  facts 
hinted  at,  as  disgusted  at  the  sentiments  of  the  speakers." 

"  Then  your  surprise  must  have  been  extreme,"  said  the  other;  "for 
I  hardly  know  which  amused  me  most — their  unblushing  display  of 
selfish  meanness,  or  the  glow  of  indignation  in  your  countenance,  which 
showed  how  little  you  know  of  this  world  of  philanthropy  and  benevo- 
lence that  we  live  in.  But  bad  you  no  suspicion  of  the  cause  of  those 
enviable  advantages  which  these  sons  of  Mammon  are  so  anxious  to 
monopolize?" 

u  Not  at  all,  and  hence  my  surprise;  for  I  had  supposed  heretofore, 
that,  between  the  two  States,  all  the  advantage  lay  on  the  side  of  Vir- 
ginia." 

"You  judged  rightly/'  replied  the  other.  "In  the  way  of  com- 
merce, nature  has  done  nothing  fur  the  one,  and  every  thing  for  the 
other.  But  the  conversation  you  have  heard  is  a  proof  that  the  sand 
which  chokes  the  waters  of  the  Sound  is  a  trivial  obstacle,  in  0Ompari« 
son  with  the  legislative  barriers  which  have  shut  out  prosperity  from 
the  noble  Chesapeake.  Look  at  your  river.-  and  bay,  and  you  will  sec 
that  Virginia  ought  to  be  the  most  prosperous  country  in  the  world 
Look  at  the  ruins  which  strew  the  face  of  your  lower  country,  the  re- 
mains of  churches  and  the  fragments  of  tombstones,  and  you  will  see 
that  she  once  was  so.     Ask   f'nr  th<  lants  of  the  men  wl 

name-  arc  sculptured  on  those  monuments,  and  their  present 


138  THE   PARTISAN   LEADER. 

will  rity  has  passed  away.    Then  a*k  all  hist 

to  the  finest  countries  in  the  world — to  Amu   Minor,  to  <i 

isk  what  has  laid  them  desolate,  and  you  will  receive 'bat  one 
answ<  r,  '  misgoverament 
"  But  may  not  the  fault  be  in  the  people  themselves?"  asked  1 

"  The  fault  of  submitting  to  be  misgoverned,  certainly.  3?nt  no 
more  than  that.  Lei  the  country  enjoy  its  natural  advantages,  and 
they  \\h"  arc  too  ignorant  or  too  Blothful  to  use  them  will  booh  irive 
place  to  others  of  a  different  character.  What  has  there  been  to  \ 
vent  the  Yankee  from  selling  his  barren  hills  at  high  prices  ami  com- 
ing South,  where  he  might  buy  the  fertile  shores  of  the  Chesap 
for  a  song?  No  local  attachment,  certainly — for  his  home  is  every 
where.  What  i.->  there  now  to  prevent  the  planter  of  this  neighbor- 
hood from  exchanging  his  thirsty  fields  for  the  rich  and  long-coveted 
low  grounds  of  dames  River  or  lxoanoke,  in  Virginia?  Are  these 
people  wiser,  better,  more  energetic  and  industrious  than  they  were 
twelve'  months  ago,  that  their  lands  have  multiplied  in  value  five  fold? 
Is  it  your  uncle's   fault,    that,    were   he    now  at  hom<  the  tame  slave  of 

power,  he  could  hardly  give  away  his  line  estate  ?    The  difference  is, 

that  this  country  now  enjoys  its  natural  advantages,  while  Virginia  re- 
mains under  the  crushing  weight  ol  a  system  devised  for  the  benefit  of 

her  oppressors." 

"I  sec  the  effect,"  said  Douglas.  "  lint  tell  me,  I  beseech  you,  the 
cause  of  this  change  in  your  condition  here." 

"  The  cause  is  free  trade." 

"And  how  has  that  been  obtained  ?" 

"  I  will  answer  that."  said  I! — .  "  because  my  friend's  modesty  might 
restrain  him  from  giving  the  true  answer.  It  has  been  obtained  by  in- 
telligence, manly  frankness,  and  fair  dealing.  It  has  been  obtained  by 
offering  to  other  nations  terms  most  favorable  to  their  peculiar  and  dis- 
tinctive interests,  in  consideration  of  receiving  the  like  advantage. 
Instead  of  nursing  artificial  interests  to  rival  the  iron  and  cotton  fab* 
.  and  the  shipping  of  England,  the  wine  of  France,  the  Bilk  and 

oil  of  Italy,  and  enviously  snatching  at  whatever  benefit  nature  may 
have  vouchsafed  to  other  parts  of  the  world,  this  people  only  ask  to 
exchange  for  these  things  their  own  peculiar  productions.  A  trade 
pel:  totally    discharged    from   all   duties,   would   certainly  be 

fur  all.  J5ut  revenue  must  be  had,  and  the  imrJbst  is  the  best 
source  of  revenue.  .No  State  can  be  expected  to  :_rive  that  up.  ]5ut  it 
has  been  found   practicable  so   to  regulate   that  matter  as  reduce  tho 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  139 

charges   which    have   heretofore   incumbered    exchanges   to   a  mere 
trifle." 

"How  has  that  been  effected?''  asked  Douglas. 

'  0 

•'  If  that  question  were  to  be  answered  in  detail,"  said  13 — ,  "  I 
should  leave  the  answer  to  him  by  whom  the  details  have  been  arranged. 
I  will  give  you  the  outline  in  a  few  words.  These  States  were  first 
driven  to  think  of  separation  by  a  tariff  of  protection.  Their  Federal 
constitution  guards  against  it  by  express  prohibition,  and  by  requiring 
that  the  impost,  like  the  tax  laws  of  Virginia,  should  be  annual. 

"  They  have  felt  the  danger  to  liberty  from  excessive  revenue.  Their 
constitution  requires  that  the  estimates  of  the  expense  of  the  current 
year  shall  be  made, the  measure  of  revenue  to  be  raised  for  that  year. 
The  imports  of  the  preceding  year  arc  taken  as  a  basis  of  calculation, 
and  credit  being  given  for  any  surplus  in  the  treasury,  a  tariff  is  laid 
which,  on  that  basis,  would  produce  the  sum  required." 

"  Then  there  can  never  be  any  surplus  for  an  emergency,"  said 
Douglas. 

"Always,"  replied  B — ■;  "  in  the  right  place,  and  the  only  safe 
plaoc — the  pockets  of  a  prosperous  people.  There  is  no  place  in  the 
treasury  to  keep  money.  The  till  of  the  treasury  has  a  hole  in  the 
bottom,  and  the  money  always  finds  its  way  into  the  pockets  of  sharp- 
ers, parasites,  man-worshippers,  and  pseudo  patriots.  But  let  that  pass. 
You  sec  that  a  small  revenue  alone  will  probably  be  wanting,  and  being 
raised  annual]}-,  the  tariff  can  be  annually  adjusted. 

"Now,  what  says  justice,  as  to  the  revenue  to  be  raised  by  two  na- 
tions on  the  trade  between  the  two,  seeing  that  it  is  equally  levied  on 
the  citizens  of  both  ''." 

"On  that  hypothesis  each  should  receive  an  equal  share  of  it,'"  said 
Douglas. 

"  Precisely  so,"  answered  B — ,  "and  let  these  terms  be  held  out  to 
all  nations,  and  if  one  will  not  accept  them  another  will.  On  this 
principle  a  system  of  commercial  arrangements  baa  been  set  on*  foot 
which,  by  restoring  to  these  States  the  benefit  of  their  natural  advan- 
tages, is  at  once  producing  an  effect  which  explains  their  former  pros- 
perity. It  places  in  Btronger  relief  the  evils  of  the  m  to 
Virginia,  and  really  l<  aves  her,  while  she  retains  her  pn  ,-cnt  connexion 
with  the  North,  without  any  resource.  I  '  •  ■  she  cannot  sell  at  all. 
Liritu  natura,  she  will  have  to  rai.-e  cotton  to  supply  the  beggared 
manufactories  of  the  North,  from  which  she.  will  no)  iu  return 
the  third  pari  a<  much  of  the  manufactured  article  as  the  Carolina 
planter  will  get  for  his.  Thii  if  her  fal  3  \  and  would  throw 
off  the  yoke.     But  her  Northern                      it  No.     She  is  all  thai 


140  THE    PABTIBAB    LKADBR. 

•  i  then  of  tl  <  ir  Southern  dependencies,  which,  though  not 

they  have  bo  long  governed  a*  colonies.    Take  hex  away. 

and  they  are  in  the  condition  of  the  wolf  when  then-  are  no  sheep  left. 

v.    If  eat  wolf,  and  Eenkee  cheat  "\"  :i  n  k  t-t.-.   This  they  will  guara  against 

by  all  means  lawful  and  unlawful,  for  Virginia  alone  mitigates  the 
ruin  that  their  insatiate  rapacity  has  bronght  upon  them.  They  will 
hold  on  to  her  with  the  gripe  of  death ;  ami  she  must  an.]  will  straggle 
to  free  herself,  as  from  death. 

"And  now,  how  say  you?  Are  you  prepared  to  do  your  part  in 
furtherance  of  this  objeel 

"  1  :un,"  replied  Douglas  promptly,  "and  I  now  eagerly  ask  you  to 
show  me  the  means  by  which  I  can  advance  it." 

"  Vnu  asked  for  men,"  said  ]$ — ,  "and  you  shall  have  thctn.  They 
arc  already  provided,  and  want  but  a  leader." 

"But  what  authority  can  I  have  to  be  recognhed  as  such  ?" 

"  You  have  heard  your  uncle,  aunt,  or  cousins,  speak  of  Jacob 
Schwartz." 

"  I  believe  I  have  ;  but  what  can  such  a  fellow  have  to  do  with  such 
affairs  as  we  now  speak  of.     Is  he  nut  an  ignorant  clown  ?" 

"  lie  is  all  that,"  said  B,  "  But  he  writes  as  good  a  hand  as  Mar- 
shal Saxe,  and  has  probably  read  as  many  hooks  as  Cincinnatus.  But 
to  speak  seriously,  he  is  no  common  clown.  J  picked  bim  up,  nearly 
forty  years  DgO,  a  little,  dirty,  ragged  boy,  without  money,  without 
friends,  without  education,  and  without  principles.  All  these  wants  I 
found  means  to. supply,  except   that   of  education,  which  to  him  would 

1  a  quite  superfluous,     lint  he  now  has  n ey  sufficient,  and  friends 

without  number ;  and,  what  is  better  still,  he  has  become  an  honest 
•  .  and  discharges  the  duties  of  one  none  the  worse  lor  having  had 
a  pretty  largo  experience  in  knavery.  Such  as  he  is,  he  is  bound  to 
me  by  gratitude,  such  as  few  men  are  capable  of.  More  than  a  dozen 
years  ago,  he  followed  the  bent  of  early  habit,  and  retired  to  his  native 
mountains,  where  he  has  married,  and  lives  after  the  manner  of  the 
country,  as  if  he  were  worth  nothing  in  the  world  but  his  rifle.  He 
has  a  good  deal  of  money,  which  1  manage  for  him  ;  and  as  he  has  no 
taste  lor  extravagance  of  any  sort,  and  is  generous  as  a  king,  he  always 
has  a  dollar  to  spare  a  friend. 

"  When  I  tell  you  that  the  people  of  that  district  see  so  little  money 
that  they  always  count  it  by  four-penee-hali'pennics,  you  will  readily 
believe  that  a  little  help  goes  a  great  way.  They  don't  sec  that  Schwartz 
has  any  property}  but  their  opinion  of  bis  sagac'ty  and  enterprise 
takes  away  all  wuiider  at  the  fact,  that  he  is  always  able,  as  well  as 
ready,  to  give   aid  to  a  friend  at  time  of  need.     You  will,  of  course, 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  141 

infer,  that  his  influence  among  them  is  very  great.  Now  that,  and  all 
his  faculties  of  body,  mind,  and  purse,  are  at  my  command.  He  is 
aware  of  the  state  of  public  affairs  ;  adopts  all  my  views,  as  far  as  he 
can  understand  them,  and  beyond  that  point  trusts  me  implicitly.  It 
is  through  his  instrumentality  that  the  minds  of  the  mountaineers  of 
that  district  arc  prepared  for  action  at  this  moment.  No  force  is  actu- 
ally organized,  but  every  thing  is  ready  for  the  emergency.  The  dis- 
positions of  the  people,  and  the  strong  fastnesses  of  the  country,  will 
make  it  a  secure  retreat  to  a  partisan  corps.  The  materials  for  such  a 
corps  may  be  found  in  part  among  the  inhabitants.  A  nucleus  is  all 
that  is  wanting,  and  to  that  all  the  persecuted  and  distressed,  from 
every  quarter,  will  gather." 

"  You  show  me,  then,"  said  Douglas,  "that  you  already  have  all  you 
want — men  and  a  leader.  Your  friend  Schwartz  must  be  the  very  man 
to  command  those  fellows,  and  might  not  like  to  submit  to  the  authority 
of  another." 

"  He  is  not  the  man  to  command,"  said  E — ,  "because. he  could  not 
keep  up  intelligence  with  other  parts  of  the  country,  though  as  a  me- 
dium of  intelligence  there  is  none  better.  Indeed  he  cannot  be  spared 
from  that  branch  of  service.  Besides,  though  he  might  command  his 
neighbors,  you  will  be  joined  by  men  who  will  not  submit  to  be  com- 
manded by  any  but  a  gentleman.  As  to  any  reluctance  on  his  part,  gp 
to  him  in  my  name,  or  in  that  of  your  uncle  or  aunt,  and  you  command 
him,  body  and  soul.  You  will  find  all  his  faculties  devoted  to  your 
service,  without  envy,  jealousy,  or  grudging;  and  you  will  do  well  to 
^use  his  mind  more  than  his  body.  In  many  particulars  he  is  one  of 
the  most  efficient  men  in  the  world ;  and  as  he  perfectly  understands 
himself,  and  knows  what  he  is  fit  for,  you  may  always  leave  him  to 
choose  his  own  function,  and  to  execute  it  in  his  own  way." 


14'2  T1IE    PARTISAN    L1IADER. 


C  II  A  PTER    XXIX. 

The  heath  this  night  mil-;  be  my  l>ed, 
The  bracken  curtain  for  my  head, 
My  lullaby  the  wai  '■ 

I.  ■.  ••■.  Mary ! 

"  I  THINK,"  said  Donglas,  "  1  now  und<  rstand  your  general  purpose, 

and  the  means  to  be  placed  at  my  disposal.     Let  me  now  know  your 

if  operations.      What,  am  1  to  do,  and  when  '!" 

u  The  task  1  propose  to  myself,"  replie  I  B — ,  "  is  one  which  requires 

lyselfout  of  httrm's  way,  and  free  from  all  suspicion,  until 

time  shall  come;  when  I  propose  to  act  a  part  which  shall  make 
me  a  conspicuous  mark  for  the  malice  or  policy  of  our  enemies.  Hence 
1  affect  to  live,  and  keep  myself  as  much  a-  possible  on  this  side  of  the 
line.  What  you  do  there  must  he  done  in  such  a  way  as  to  indicate 
bo  connexion  with  me.  I  therefore  propose  that  you  accompany  my 
friend  here  to  South  Carolina,  where  you  may  dejrive  much  benefit  from 
seeing  the  first  men  in  that  State,  with  whom  he  will  make  you  ac- 
quaint' <1.     From  thence  1  would  have  yon  address  letters  to  your  friends 

oiallythi  army)  so  worded  a- to  lead  them  to  attribute  your 

chan  |  which  should  be  made  to  seen)  progressive  I  to  the  in- 

fluence of  th(  tii  as,      \   few  weeks  will  he  sufficient  for 

this  purpose,  and  you  may  return  to  Virginia  early  in  the  summer." 
11.  r.  ."  continued  15 — .  pointing  to  a  map  which  hung  in  the  room,  "is 
the  joint  at  which  you  will  enter  the  State,  and  here  will  he  the  prin- 
cipal scene  of  your  operations.  You  will  there  find  Schwartz,  to  whom 
you  shall  he  properly  accredited,  and  from  whom  you  will  learn  the  re- 
Bourcea  to  he  placed  at  your  command,  and  the  capabilities  of  the  coun- 
try. 

•w  observe  Our  ohject  h  to  organise  a  small  force,  under  which 
the  district  may  be  protected  in  declaring  for  the  Independenc  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  prepared  to  afford  a  place  of  refuge  to  the  Legislature, 
should  they  be  driven  from  Richmond  before  they  have  time  to  organ* 
izetl  us  of  the  Government,    Of  course,  they,  must  have  an 

■  rtunity  to  assemble  there,  if  hut  for  a  day.  This  it  must  be  our 
care  to  secure,  by  a  sudden  movement  from  the  midland  counties  on 
the  southern  boundary,  and  in  this  we  may  need  your  co-operation. 
On  that  point  we  shall  take  care  to  keep  you  advised. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  143 

Now,  our  first  object  being  to  free  Richmond  from  the  presence  of 
the  federal  army,  at  the  moment  the  Legislature  is  to  meet,  we  must  be 
careful  to  cause  no  alarm  for  the  safety  of  that  place.  Any  movement 
in  that  direction  would  produce  a  concentration  of  force  there,  and  in- 
crease our  difficulties.  You  should,  therefore,  be  careful  so  to  shape 
your  operations  as  rather  to  call  the  attention  of  the  enemy  to  other 
points;  and  if  you  can  make  them  of  sufficient  importance  to  draw  de- 
tachments from  Richmond,  a  double  purpose  will  be  answered.  You 
will  have  no  cause  to  fear  any  force  that  can  be  brought  against  you. 
Your  field  of  operations  affords  situations  which  may  defy  assault,  and, 
the  line  of  North  Carolina  being  at  your  back,  you  may,  at  any  mo- 
ment, cross  it  and  disband  for  a  time. 

"  But  I  am  not  sure  whether  our  end  may  not  be  answered  best  by 
giving  to  all  your  operations  such  a 'character  as  may  exclude  the  idea 
of  any  political  object.  As  none  of  those  who  are  conspicuous  as  mal- 
contents in  the  lower  country  will  join  vou,  this  deception  will  not  be 
difficult.  In  beating  up  the  quarters  of  the  troops  near  you,  you  may 
seem  to  act  but  in  self-defence;  and  should  you  extend  your  blow  so 
far  as  Lynchburg,  your  mountaineers  will  hardly  fail  to  levy  such  con- 
tributions on  the  camp-followers,  and  Yankee  pedlars  there,  (who  call 
themselves  merchants,)  as  to  give  the  measure  the  appearance  of  a 
mere  marauding  expedition." 

"I  am  not  so  very  sure,"  replied  Douglas,  "that  I  should  like  to  mix 
my  little  reputation  as  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman  with  an  affair  of  that  sort.' 

"lam  not  suggesting  anything  contrary  to  the  laws  of  war, 
B — .  "The  violation  of  them  would  be  but  in  appearance.  Care 
would  be  taken  to  indemnify  any  who  might  be  wronged,  whenever  it 
shall  be  expedient  for  you  to  throw  off  the  mask.  As  to  any  temporary 
misconstruction,  your  name  would  connect  you  with  your  uncle,  and, 
through  him,  with  mc  and  all  our  friends;  and  moreover,  would  whet 
the  malice  of  your  worthy  friends,  the  Bakers,  who  would  move  heaven 
and  earth  to  circumvent  you.  Better,  therefore,  to  drop  the  last  na-roe. 
Archibald  Douglas  is  name  enough  to  satisfy  the  ambition  of  any 
reasonable  man,  at  least  until  he  can  cap  it  with  a  yet  mure  honorable 
addition,  if  that  be  possible." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  there  was  some  appearance  of 
embarrassment  about  Douglas,  which  did  not  escape  the  observation  of 
his  uncle.     At  length   he  slid  to  him,  in  an  under  tone,  that,  befon 
carrying  the  matter  under  discussion  any  farther,  he  would  be  glad  to 
have  a  few  words  with  him  in  private. 

•'  1  understand  your  wi.-h,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  aloud;  "it  shall 
be  indulged. " 


144  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

••  I  -  i  mistake  me,"  said  Douglas,  coloring  very  high. 

Not  at  all,"  replied  the  other.     "You  only  suppose  so  because 
not  know  that  one  of  my  friends  here  received  his  wife  in  man-; 

my  hands,  and  that  the  other  stood  father  to  mine.     II.  nee  I  have  no 
such  r<  ith  them  as  you  may  suppose.     Now  do  I  understand 

you  ?" 

••  1  dare  say  you  do,"  replied  Douglas,  blushing  yet  more  deeply. 

"Then,  I  Bay  again,  your  wish  shall  he  indulged.  You  shall  not 
as  until  you  arc  fully  established  in  all  the  rights  which  it  is 
mine  to  confer.  But  you  must  suppress  your  raptures  until  you  hear 
the  conditions.  Our  plan  requires  secresy,  and  above  all,  that  there 
should  be  no  appearance  of  concert  between  you  and  us,  and  no  cause 
pect  it.  This  thing,  therefore,  must  be  absolutely  private;  no 
witnesses  but  those  here  present,  and  your  aunt,  and  Lucia  ;  and  in  the 
next  moment  your  foot  must  be  in  the  stirup.     Are  you  content?" 

"  Content !"  said  Douglas.  "  Indeed  I  am  not ;  but  I  see  that  you 
arc  acting  upon  a  concerted  plan,  and  that  ail  expostulation  must  he 
■\ain.     Let  me  at  least  see  Delia  now." 

••  1  suspect  she  has  gone  to  bed,"  said  Mr.  T — .  "  li-timl .'  I  be- 
lieve is  the  word  introduced  by  our  Yankee  Bchoobmistresses,  whose 
prurient  imaginations  are  shocked  at  the  name  of  a  bed.  Door  girl, 
she  was  glad  to  retire,  in  the  plain  English  BenBe  of  the  word,  as  soon 
as  we  got  here,  and,  I  dan!  say,  has  been  in  hed  half  an  hour.  She 
and  your  aunt  were  on  active  service  all  last  night,  while  you  were 
keeping  a  snoring  watch  over  our  friend  Whiting.  Come,  my  hoy  ! 
You  shall  not  infect  her  with  the  fever  of  your  brain  to-night.  If  you 
cannot  sleep,  it  is  no  reason  why  she  should  not.  And  now  let  us  turn 
again  to  other  matter'-." 

"  The  next  question,  then,"  said  the  southron,  "  is  how  we  can  aid 
you?     By  sword,  or  tongue,  or  pen,  or  purs. 

"By  purse  as  much  as  you  please,"  said  1> — .  "Our  young  friend 
here  Will  need  a  small  military  chest,  which  we  have  no  means  of  fill- 
ing. As  to  the  rest,  keep  out  of  the  Bcrape.  We  wish  to  join  you  in 
and  then  remain  at  peace,  which  will  not  he,  if  you  strike  a  blow 
in  our  behalf  now.  As  much  individual  aid  as  you  please  to  our  ren- 
dezvous  just  before  the  first  Monday  in  December.  A  thousand  indc- 
pendenl  volunteers,  pour  fr  coup,  would  be  welcome.  In  the  mean- 
time, if  you  can  send  our  young  friend  here  a  promising  young  officer 
from  yur  military  school,  to  be  his  second  in  command,  it  is  all  we 
would  ask.  '  Of  course,  he  will  come  as  of  his  own  head,  for  you  must 
not  seem  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  matter." 

3Iany  other   topics  connected  with  our  subject  were  discussed,  but  I 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  145 

deem  it  unadvisablc  to  speak  of  more  than  is  necessary  to  explain  the 
subsequent  situation  of  the  parties.  When  they  met  again  at  break- 
fast, the  swimming  eye  and  changing  cheek  of  Bblia  told  that  she  had 
been  made  acquainted  with  all  that  had  passed.  The  countenance  of 
Douglas  beamed  with  high  excitement,  at  «once  pleasant  and  painful. 
A  glance  of  triumphant  encouragement  to  Delia,  and  her  answering 
tearful  smile,  showed  that  they  perfectly  understood  each  other.  In- 
deed, it  was  time  they  should,  for  it  had  been  settled  that  B — ,  who 
was  a  resident  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county,  sljould  perform 
the  maniige  ceremony,  according  to  the  unceremonious  law  of  North 
Carolina,  immediately  after  breakfast. 

As  soon  as  it  was  over,  they  adjourned  to  the  parlor,  where  B — , 
drawing  Delia  to  him,  seated  her  on  his  knee.  "  I  don't  half  like  this 
business,"  said  he.  "I  have  no  mind  to  take  an  active  part  ih  giving 
up  my  own  little  girl  to  this  young  fellow.  I  am  too  old  to  think  of 
loving  and  lighting  all  in  a  breath,  as  he  does,  and  I  thought  to  wait 
till  the  wars  were  over,  and  here  he  comes  and  cuts  me  out.  But  I 
am  determined  to  do  nothing  in  prejudice  of  my  claim  until  I  find  that 
I  have  no  Chance.  Young  man,"  added  he,  in  a  tone  gradually  chang- 
ing from  playful  to  serious,  "  do  you  love  this  dear  girl  with  that  faith- 
ful, single-hearted  love,  which  man  owes  to  a  woman  who  gives  him  all 
her  heart,  and  entrusts  to  him  all  her  happiness  and  all  her  hopes?" 

As  he  said  this  he  took  the  hand  of  Douglas,  and  went  on  :  "  Do 
you  thus  love  her,  and  will  you  in  good  faith  manifest  this  love,  by  be- 
ing to  her  a  true  and  devoted  husband,  in  every  change  and  vicissitude 
of  life,  so  long  as  life  shajl  last?  Answer  me,  Douglas,"  he  continued, 
with  a  voice  approaching  to  sternness,  and  &  fixed  and  searching  look, 
while  he  strongly  grasped  the  young  man's  hand. 

"  Assuredly  I  will,"  said  Douglas,  somewhat  hurt. 
.#'  And  you  dear,"  said  B — ,  resuming  his  kind,  and  playful  tone,  "  do 
you  love   this'young  fellow  in  like  sort,  and  will  you,  on  your  part,  be 
to  him  thus  faithful  as  his  wife?" 

While  B —  said  this,  the  blushing  Delia  tried  to  disengage  herself; 
but  he  detained  her,  and  caught  the  hand  with  which  she  endeavored 
to  loosen  hi.-  from  her  waist,  and  held  it  fast.  At  length  she  hid  her 
face  on  his  neck,  whispering  : 

"You  know  I  do.     You  know!  will." 

"Then  God  bless  you,  my  children,"  said  B — ,  bringing  their  hands 
together  and  grasping  both  firmly  in  one  of  his;  "for  you  arc  married 
as  fast  as  the  law  can  tic  you." 

In  a  moment  the  whole  party  were  on  their  feet,  each  expressing  k 
different  variety  of  Burpriae.  .  Douglas  was  the  first  td  understand    hia 

10 


146    '  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

situation  fully,  a?  appeared  by  his  springing  forward  and»catching  his 
bride  to  his  bosom,  imprinting  on  her  pure  check  the  kiss  that  holy  na- 
ture prompts,  and  thtt  all  the  caprices  of  fashion  (thank  God! 
never  shame.  From  him  she  escaped  into  the  arms  of  her  mother. 
who,  caressing  her  with  murmured  tenderness,  looked  half  reproach- 
fully at  B— .  Then  smiling  through  Jhe  tear  that  filled  her  large  brae 
em  -he  shook  her  finger  at  him, .ami  said,  "Just  like  you!  just  like 
you !" 

"  Fairly  cheated  you  of  your  scene,  Margaret.  All  the  matronly 
airs,  and  maidenly  airs,  that  you  and  Delia  have  been  rehearsing  this 
morning,  gone  for  nothing.  And  there  is  dear  little  Lucia  crying  U  if 
to  break  her  heart,  because  sister  Delia  was  married  before  she  could 
fix  her  pretty  little  face  for  the  occasion.  Never  mind,  dear  I  When 
your  turn  comes  there  will  be  less  hurry,  and  you  shall  have  a  ceremony 
as  long  as  the  whole  liturgy.  Well,  Douglas,  you  will  not  quarrel  with 
me,  I  am  sure ;  and  I  think  Delia  will  forgive  me  for  the  trick  I  played 
her.  You  have  but  an  hour  to  stay  together,  and  where  was  tlie  sense 
of  giving  that  up  to  the  flutter  and  agitation  of  a  deferred  ceremony? 
I.suspect  if  I  were  always  to  manage  the  matter  in  this  way,  1  Bhould 
have  my  hands  as  full  of  business  as  the  dentist  that  used  to  conjure 
people's  teeth  out  of  their  mouths  without  their  knowing  it,  while  he 
was  pretending  just  to  fix  his  instrument.  But  go,  my  children. 
Empty  your  full  hearts  into  each  other's  bosoms,  and  thauk  me  for  the 
privilege." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  147 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Gathering  tears  and  tremblings  of  distress  j 

And  olieeks  all  pale,  which,  but  an  hour  ago, 

Blushed  at  the  praise  of  their  own  loveliness. 

And  there  were  sudden  partings,  such  as  press 

The  life  from  out  young  hearts,  and  choking  sighs. 

Which  ne'er  might  he  repeated  :   Who  could  guess 

If  ever  mare  should  meet  those  mutual  eyes?  Byron. 

And  so  it  was.  I  can  add  nothing  to  the  language  of  the  poet.  I 
'  can  supply  nothing  to  the  imagination  of  the  reader.  Thus  Dou.las 
and  Delia  parted.  He  accompanied  his  new  acquaintance  to  the  south- 
ern capital ;  he  there  met  with  men  whose  names  live  and  will  live  in 
the  history  of  their  country,  and  whose  memories  will  be  honored  while 
virtue  is  held  in  reverence  among  men.  From  these,  and  especially 
from  the  accomplished  gentleman  to  whose  friendship  he  had  been  in- 
troduced by  his  uncle  and  Mr.  B — ,  he  received  such  lights  as  dis- 
pelled every  shadow  of  doubt  from  his  mind.  The  wrongs  of  Virginia, 
ner  rights  and  her  remedies,  became  the  subject  of  all  jhis  thoughts, 
'  and  he  burned  with  impatience  for  the  time  when  he  might  draw  his 
sword  on  her  behalf,  and'  turn  to  her  use,  as  he  had  expressed  it,  the 
lessons  learned  in  the  school  of  her  oppressors. 

That  time  at  length  arrived.  Returning  by  the  upper  road  which 
skirts  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  he  re-entered  Virginia  nearly  at  the 
spot  to  which  his  brother  had  gone  in  quest  of  him.  There,  as  he  had 
been  taught  to  expect,  he  found  Schwartz,  whose  reception  of  him  fully 
justified  the  assurances  of  13 — .  To  that  gentleman  he  showed  un- 
bounded devotion,  delighted  to  speak  of  favors  received  at  his  hands, 
and  of  "  moving  accidents  by  flood  and  field,"  which  they  had  encoun- 
tered together.  Next  to  1> — ,  in  his  estimation,  stood  Mrs.  Trevor ; 
then  Delia,  for  whom,  when  a  child,  he  had  formed  a  passionate  at- 
tachment; and  last,  Mr.  Trevor  himself,  whom,  after  the  rest,  he  re- 
spected and  admired  above  all  human  beings.  A  hint  from  ]i —  that 
Douglas  was  the  husband  of  Delia  placed  him  at  once  in  the  same  cata- 
logue of  worthies,  and  from  the  first  moment  he  devoted  himself  not 
less  to  his  personal  service  than  to  the  advancement  of  the  common 
cause.  lie  had  already  organised  a  small  corps,  the  command  of  which 
he  unrtservedly  surrendered,  making  it  his  constant  study  to  recom- 
mend the  new  commander  to  the  confidence  of  the  men. 


148  THE  PARTISAN  LEADER. 

No  roan  could  deserve  it  better,  or  was  bettor  qualified  to  win  it. 
Frank,  affable,  generous  and  kind,  bis  deportment  was  marked  by  that 
self-n  -]■•  rti'ul  courtesy  which  lias  all  the  good,  effect  of  dignity,  without 
passing  by  that  name.  With  nothing  repulsive,  austere,  or  cold 
in  his  demeanor,  he  was  a  man  whoso  orders  no  soldier  would  question, 
whose  displeasure  no  gentleman  would  choose  to  incur,  whose  feelings 
no  friend,  however  oar<JeB8,  would  wound.  Liberally  supplied  with 
money  by  his  southern  i'riends,  and  instmeted  by  Schwartz  in  the  judi- 
cious use  of  it,  he  took  effectual  measures  to  prevent  distress  in  the 
families  of  his  followers.  A  small  sum  amply  satisfied  theit  simple, 
wants,  ami  his  men  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  their  families 
suffered  nothing  by  their  absence  from  tiieir  little  farms. 

Beside  the  small  embodied  corps  I  have  mentioned,  the  whole  popu- 
lation of  that  warlike  district  were  plaood  under  a  sort  of  organisation, 
so  that,  while  they  pursued  their  occupations  of  hunting  or  farming, 
they  were  prepared,  tit  any  moment,  to  join  an  expedition  or  to  resist 
an  attack. 

Schwartz,  who  knew  the  country,  inch  by  inch,  made  Douglas  ac- 
,  cjuainted  with    all   its  strengths   and   all   its   passes,  so  that.be  soon  be- 
came an  expert  woodsman,  and    an  aetive  mountaineer.      His  Erst  pare 
was  to  select  a  place  for  a  stationary  Qsmp.      for  this  purpose  be  ebose 
a  position  strong  by  nature,  which  be  made  nearly  impregnable.     Se 
next  provided  horses  enough  to  mount  a  part  of  his  corps.     For  these 
the  rich  herbage  of  the  mountains  afforded  abundant  subsistence  during 
the   summer  months.     Of  ammunition   there  was   no  stint.     The  lead 
mines  were  just  at  Ma  back,  beyond  tin'  Alleghany.     Powder  is  made 
of  ^ood  quality  in    all   that   region,  ami   the  quantity  necessary  for  the 
rifle  is  so  small,  that  the  rifleman    may  lie  said  t.>  carry  a  hundred  lives 
in  his  powdcrdiorn.     Of  provisions  ho    bad   plenty,   though    wanting 
many  things  deemed  necessary  in  a  regular  army.     ]»ut  the  pure  air  of 
the  mountains,  and  the  exercise  of  hunting  and  scouting,  preserved  the 
health   of  the  men  without  tents,  or  salt,  or  vinegar,  or   vegetables  of 
any  kind.     Venison   and  beef,  dried  in  the  sun,  or  over  the  fire  by  the 
process   called  jerking,  was   prepared  in  the  season   of  abundance  for 
winter   use,  and   proved  the  best  sort  of  food  for  a  marauding  corps. 
Light,  compact,  and   nutritious,  there  is   no  diet  on  which  a  man   can 
travel  so  far  or  fight  so  hard. 

Nothing  now  remained  but  to  make  his  enemy  feel  him.  Stooping 
from  his  mountain  fastness,  he  soon  broke  up  all  the  military  posts  in 
the  adjacent  counties  ;  so  that,  in  a  few  weeks,  not  a  blue-coat  was  to 
be  seen  on  the  south  side  of  Staunton  river.  Freed  from  the*presence 
of  their  enemy,  the  people  were  found  ready  to  rise  en  masse.     lie  dis- 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  149 

suaded  them  from  doing  more  than  to  put  themselves  in  readiness  for 
action,  to  furnish  him  needed  supplies,  for  which  he  paid  fairly,  and  to 
give  him  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  For  this  purpose  he  es- 
tablished a  sort  of  half  military  organization,  and  had  it  in  his  power 
to  increase  his  little  foYce  to  five  times  its  number  in  a  few  days.  His 
strength  being  thus  adapted  to  any  occasion  which  could  be  expected 
to  offer,  after  sweeping  away  the  enemy  from  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  he  proceeded  to  break  up  the  posts  in  the  counties  on  the  north- 
ern bank.  In  the  end,  though  the  enemy  were  nominally  in  posses- 
sion of  all  the  country  between  James  river  and  Roanoke,  they  held  no 
post  higher  than  Lynchburg,  nor  any  farther  south  than  Farmville. 
Above  this  last  place,  their  scouts  and  foraging  parties  showed  them- 
selves occasionally,  but  never  ventured  to  leave  the  banks  of  James 
river  for  more  than  a  single  night. 

At  Lynchburg,  not  long  before  the  time  at  which  our  story  com- 
mences, two  companies  had  been  posted.  As  Douglas  had  never  shown 
a  force  of  more  than  a  hundred  men,  no  fear  of  an  attack  on  that  point 
was  entertained.  But  suddenly  collecting  a  number  of  auxiliaries,  he 
struck  at  them,  drove  them  from  their  post,  enriched  his  men  with 
everything  that  the  laws  of  war  permitted  him  to  seize,  and  retreated 
to  his  stronghold  in  the  mountains.  The  supplies  of  arms,  ammuni- 
tion, clothing,  and  blankets  thin  procured,  put  him  in  a  condition  to 
increase  his  corps,  if  necessary..  Thus,  at  the  time  of  which  we  speak, 
having  little  more  than  a  hundred  men  embodied,  he  could  have 
marched  five  times  that  number  to  Richmond;  and,  for  any  service 
nearer  at  hand,  could  have  commanded  a  yet  larger  force.  Though 
unprovided  with  many  of  the  conveniences  of  military  life,  they  were  not 
deficient  in  essentials.  There  was"  not  a  bit  of  feather  in  his  host,"  nor 
drum,  nor  trumpet,  nor  banner.  But  there  were  stout  hearts,  and 
strong  hands,  and  fleet  limbs,  and  good  rifles,  and  knives  and  toma- 
hawks; and  that  system  and  harmony  which  spring  from  a  sense  of 
danger,  a  high  purpose,  and  confidence  in  a  leader.  To  the  listening 
ear,  a  whisper  speaks  louder  than  a  trumpet  to  the  heedless.  To  the 
trusting  heart,  the  chieftain's  voice  supersedes  the  spirit-stirring  drum. 

"While  Douglas  thus  maintained  his  position  among  the  mountains, 
it  became  a  sort  of  Cave  of  Adullam.  His  little  corps  was  a  neucleua 
to  which  the  discontented  and  persecuted  gathered  continually.  Hi* 
e:i. bodied  force  was  increased,  while  the  organization  of  the  neighbor- 
ing popplation  became  more  perfect,  their  confidence  firmer,  their  zeal 
more  ardent.  So  effectually  had  he  broken  the  power  of  the  Central 
Government  in  that  quarter,  that  it  had  been  deemed  expedient  to 
throw  a  much  larger  force  into  Lynchburg,  to  curb  his  progress  in  that 


150  THE    PARflSAN    LBADSR. 

direction,  and  to  restrain  the  disaffected  in  the  counties  along  the  rn.rtli 
bank  of  James  river.  Could  he  have  co-operated  with  the  Irlendi  of 
Virginia  there,  it  was  not  clear  that  the  flame  might  not  spread  OB  aad 
on.  in  the  direction  of  Washington, nntil  the  very  scat  of  empire  might 
be  unsafe.  Hence  a  regiment  had  been  detached  from  the  army  at 
Richmond,  and  another  from  the  North,  originally  destined  for  that 
place,  Was  turned  aside  to  Lynchburg.  Aware  of  these  movements, 
Douglas  had  no  doubt  that  the  purpose  of  such  an  assemblage  of  force 
was  ftol  merely  preventive.  He  saw  that  attempts  wonld  be  made  to 
recover  the  groond  which  the  enemy  had  Inst  on  the  south  side  of 
James  river;  and  that,  by  remaining  strictly  on  the  defensive,  he 
might  be  forced  to  withdraw  his  embodied  force  to  tbeir  mountain 
strong  hold,  and  not  only  lose  the  aid  of  his  irregulars,  but  give  them 
up  to  the  vengeance  of  the  enemy.  Under  these  circumstance*,  at- 
tack was  the  most  effectual  form  of  defence,  and  boldness  was  true  {pru- 
dence. 

The  time,  too,  was  at  baud  for  the  decisive  movement,  in  the  lower 
counties,  for  the  relief  of  lvichmond.  The  desired  diversion  had  been 
effected,  and  Douglas  found  himself  capable  of  bringing  into  tin  field 
a  force,  the  presence  of  which  would  be  no  inconsiderable  aid  to  that 
about  to  assemble  below.  To  strike  at  his  enemy  therefore,  to  over- 
whelm him,  if  possible,  and,  if  not,  to  elude  him  and  fall  down  to  the 
assistance  of  15 — ,  seemed  to  him  the  surest  plan  f"r  preserving  the 
safety  and  independence  even  of  the  mountain  region.  If  Buceessful, 
every  desirable  end  would  be  accomplished.  liven  should  he  fail,  his 
duty  to  the  faithful  yeomanry  and  peasantry  of  that  devoted  section 
was  rather  to  draw  the  enemy  away  after  him  toward  Richmond,  than 
by  falling  directly  back,  or  even  by  remaining  where  he  was,  to  invite 
them  to  overrun  the  country  which  had  afforded  him  such  zealous  and 
efficient  co-operation. 

Influenced  by  these  considerations,  Douglas  had  despatched  Schwartz 
to  lay  them  before  U — ,  and  receive  his  instructions.*  He  had  long 
ago  recognizee  him  as  the  person  of  whom  his  aunt  had  said  that  "  the 
destiny  of  Virginia  depended  on  him."  He  had  received  at  his  hands 
the  sort  of  authority  which  he  wielded,  now  indeed  by  his  own  per- 
sonal influence  and  character,  but  originally  as  the  trusted  representa- 
tive of  1J — .  He  had  no  mind  to  shake  off  that  character.  He  had 
seen  that,  by  means  not  exactly  understood,  that  gentleman  command- 
ed resources,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  which  enabled  him  to  meditate 
plans  in  which  all  the  operations  of  Douglas's  corps,  however  brilliant, 
were  but  circumstance  of  less  importance  in  themselves  than  in  their 
relations. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  151 

Schwartz  was  the  sole  medium  of  communication  between  the  two. 
•With  nothing  in  his  appearance  to  attract  attention — nothing  in  his 
manners  or  common  style  of  conversation  betokening  powers  superior 
to  those  of  any  other  peasant — his  intelligence  and  fidelity  supplied 
the  place  of  letters.  He  understood  everything,  and  forgot  nothing 
that  was  said  to  him.  He  therefore  carried  no  papers,  and  passed  un- 
suspected through  the  country,  amusing,  with  the  most  harmless  gos- 
sip, all  he  chanced  to  fall  in  with.  He  was  a  man  who  knew  how  to 
have  business  anywhere  and  at  any  moment ;  and  he  passed  along  more 
like  a  spairow  hopping  from  twig  to  twig,  pecking  at  a  berry  here  and 
a  leaf  there,  and  never  seeming  to  have  an  ulterior  object,  than  with 
the  strong-winged  flight  which  indicates  a  distant  and  important  desti- 
nation. 

In  one  of  Arthur's  visits  to  Lucia,  (his  betrothal  with  whom  was  no 
longer  a  secret  in  her  father's  family,)  he  was  made  acquainted  with 
Douglas's  marriage.  He  was  also  entrusted  with  the  important  infor- 
mation that  the  gallant  leader,  with  whose  exploits  the  country  rung, 
and  whom  his  imagination  had  endued  with  almost  superhuman  powers, 
was  his  own  best  beloved  brother.  He  was  instantly  on  fire  to  join 
him,  and  Schwartz  was  instructed  to  convey  to  him  the  necessary  in- 
telligence; and,  if  possible,  to  fall  in  with  him.  on  the  way.  But  he 
had  been  turned  aside  by  objects  of  higher  moment  on  his  return,  and 
Arthur  had  got  ahead  of  him.  Having  ascertained  this  fact  in  the 
county  of  Charlotte,  where  their  roads  came  together,  Schwartz  tra- 
velled hard  to  overtake  him ;  left  his  tired  horse  at  the  entrance  of  the 
defile,  and,  following  on  foot,  came  up  with  him  as  we  have  seen. 


THB    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

It  it.  tit  it  t  she  will  rlicri-)i  the  renown 

*  Of  noble  deeds,  achieved  ber  name  ti>t:race; 

Ami  prize  the  lienrl  tli;it  heal  t'>r  licr  alone, 
In  Glory's  triumph,  or  in  Dentil's  cm! 

Anonymous. 


Let  us  now  return  to  the  deep  glen,  at  the  bottom  of  which  we  left 
our  friend  Arthur,  accompanied  by  bis  mountain  guide.  Schwartz  WM 
welcomed  with  cordial  joy  by  his  comrades,  and,  having  asked  for  the 
Captain,  was  told  he  was  in  his  tent.  Arthur  looked  around  in  vain 
for  a  tent,  but  saw  none.  The  beetling  Drags  on  both  sides  of  the  dell 
seemed  to  be  the  only  shelter  that  the  place  afforded.  But  against  tin 
rock,  a  hundred  yards  below,  and  directly  beneath  the  spot  from  which 
Schwartz  had  given  notice  of  his  ]>resence,  hung  a  piece  of  tent-cloth 
One  edge  of  this  was,  tanked  to  a  polo  which  lay  horizont\  y  against 
the  rocky  wall,  the  ends  being  supported  by  forks  about  un  feet  long 
This  proved  to  be  a  sort  of  door  to  a  wide-monthed  cavernous  recess  in 
the  rock,  deep  enough  to  afford  room  for  the  few  Hi  tie  conveniences 
which  an  officer  can  expect  to  keep  about  him  in  active  service.  Ap- 
proaching this,  Schwartz  lifted  a  corner,  and  our  travellers  stood  in  the 
presence  of  Douglas. 

He  was  seated  at  a  course  table,  poting  over  a  rude  manuscript  map, 
and  did  not  lift  his  head  until  lie  heard  the  word  'brother'  uttered  by 
the  well-known  voice  of  Arthur.  In  a  moment  they  were  in  each 
other's  arms,  and,  in  the  next,  the  new-comer  was  overwhelmed  with 
questions  about  his  father,  mother,  and  various  friends.  Some  indeed 
were  not  named;  for,  though  Schwartz  was  in  the  secret  of  the  fact, 
he  was  incapable  of  being  let  into  the  deeper  mystery  of  hearts  like 
those  of  Douglas  and  Delia.  To  such  tin'  utterance  of  a  belfivcd  name 
in  the  presence  of  the  uninitiated  is  an  unpardonable  profanation.  But 
though  that  of  Delia  was  not  spoken,  Arthur  took  care  so  to  emphasize 
his  account  of  the  health  of  his  uncle's  family,  as  to  convey  to  the 
mind  of  Douglas  an  assurance  of  all  lie  wished  to  hear.  But  if 
Schwartz  was  not  deep  in  the  tender  mysteries  of  refined  and  delicate 
love,  no  man  better  understood  a  hint,  or  better  knew  how  to  improve 
it.     lie  accordingly  interrupted  the  conversation,  just  to  say  that  he 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  153 

brought  important  intelligence,  which  must  be  communicated  that 
night;  adding  that  he  would  leave  them,  together  for  an  hour.  He 
now  withdrew,  and  afforded  the  desired  opportunity  for  unreserved 
conversation. 

"My  Delia,"  said  Douglas;  "I  understand  that  she  is  well,  and,  I 
hope,  happy." 

"  She  is  happy,"  said  Arthur.  "  She  hears  of  you,  from  the  im- 
partial voice  of  public  fame,  in  terms  that  fill  her  heart  with  pride,  and 
leave  no  room  there  for  alarm  or  melancholy.  She  feels  as  becomes  a 
soldier's  wife,  anxious  for  her  husband's  fate,  but  confident  in  his 
fortunes.  She  has  caught  this  notion  from  Mr.  B — ,  who  is  her  oracle, 
and  who  seems  to  have  imparted  to  her,  not  only  all  his  sentiments,  but 
all  the  energy  and  buoyancy  of  his  self-confident  mind." 

"  Thank  God  !"  said  Douglas.  "  Just  so  would  I  have  her  to  be.  I 
knew  it  would  be  so.  I  saw  her  noble  mother,  when  danger  threatened 
my  uncle  ;  and  I  saw  her  too.  But  this  is  the  first  positive  informa- 
tion on  that  point,  that  has  reached  mo  since  I  have  been  here.  Mr. 
B —  and  I  can  only  correspond  by  messages  through  Schwartz,  and 
though  he  is  plain  and  accurate  as  a  printed  book  in  repeating  what  he 
understands,  yet  ideas  of  this  sort  are  not  in  his  line.  And  my  good 
and  venerable  old  father — are  you  here  with  his  permission  V 

"I  am  not;  nor  does  he  know  where  I  am.  I  have  no  doubt  that  I 
should  have  his  approbation  if  he  did.     I  am  sure  you  have." 

"  I !"  exclaimed  Douglas,  with  a  start  of  tiolent  surprise.  "  What 
does  he  know  of  me." 

"Nothing  at  all,"  said  Arthur,  smiling.  "But  he  knows  of  a 
certain  partisan  leader,  whom  the  world  calls  Captain  Douglas,  and  if  I 
can  read  the  old  man's  eyes,  when  he  hears  that  name,  he  would  rather 
call  that  man  his  son  than  any  other  on  earth." 

As  Arthur  spoke  the  eyes  of  Douglas  filled,  and  pressing  his  hand 
to  his  brow,  he  bowed  his  head  a  moment  on  the  table.  Then  rising, 
he  stood  erect,  and  looking  up  with  a  rapt  and  abstracted  air,  his  rye 
flashing  througn  his  tears,  he  folded  his  arms,  and  speaking  in  the 
measured  tone  of -one  who  feels-  deeply,  but  in  whose  mind  thoaghl 
masters  feeling,  he  parodied  that  noble  speech  which  Shakspeare  puts 
in  the  mouth  of  Prince  Henry : 

"Then  in  tho  closing  of  lome  glorioUs  day, 
"  when  I  shall  wrar  a  garment  all  of  blood, 
"And  slam  my  fa  Ton  with  a  Moody  ma.-k, 
"I  will  he  bold  to  tfll  him,  '  I  am  your  K)B.'  " 

And  my  Delia  ! — my  virgin  bride  !     0  !  for  that  day, 


154  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

When  womao'a  pun  kisS,  tweet  and  l< >nfr, 
omei  ln-r  warrior  home.'1 

•  I  tell  you,  Arthur,  that,  id  thoughts  like  these  there  is  a  rapture 
which  makes  this  hole  in  the  rock  a  palace,  and  this  flinty  couoh  a  \»  '1 
of  down.     Are  you  prepared,  my  dear  fellow,  to  partake   with   i 
such  feelings?    That,  I  know,  depends  in  part  on  Lucia.     What  oi 
her?" 

"  She  is  to  me,"  said  Arthur,  "  all  that  Delia  is  to  you ;  though  she 
is  too  young  to  have  the  Bame  strength  oi'  mind,  and  1  have  no  right 
to  expect  the  same  confidence  in  my  prowess  and  fort  in 

••  Never  fear.  It  will  not  be  wanting  at  the  pinch.  A  woman  never 
bars  for  the  safety  of  him  she  loves  but  when  she  doubts  his  truth. 
Let  her  feel  that  she  is  his  second  self,  and  self-confidence  calms  her 
fears.  Let  her  feel  that  she  lives  in  his  heart,  and.  strong  in  love,  she 
defies  the  dagger  which  assails  it.  Calphurnin  trembled  for  CsBBar. 
"Why?  He  was  the  husband  of  every  woman  in  Koine.  Had  he 
been  true  to  her,  she  would  have  felt  only  that  prudent  fear  that  he 
would  not  have  derided.  He  would,  perhaps,  have  yielded  to  her  dis- 
creet remonstrance,  and  her  love  would  have  justified  the  confidence 
which  characterizes  the  love  of  woman,  by  saving  his  life.  Bttt,  what 
a  rhapsody  1  am  ottering]  You  say  my  father  does  not  know  where 
you  are  ?     How  is  thai ':" 

"I  was  not  at  Liberty  to  acquaint  him  with  your  secret.  Your  ab- 
sence has  drawn  on  him  some  displeasure  from  those  in  power,  and 
their  minions  are  all  around  him.  It  seems  that  you  are  BUpposed  to 
lie  in  the  South  for  no  good  purpose, and  not  without  an  understanding 
with  him.  My  disappearance  will  attract  farther  notice.  For  that  he 
cares  little;  but  ho  is  BO  scrupulous  in  his  notions  of  honor  and  truth, 
that,  were  he  questioned  about  OB,  hi'  could  hardly  conceal  any  thing 
lie  might  know.  Your  letters,  1  see,  still  come  from  the  South,  though 
they  say  nothing  of  your  whereabout.  Of  course,  he  thinks  you  arc 
there;  and  I,  without  undeceiving  him,  simply  asked  leave  to  go  to 
look  for  you.  That  his  feelings  are  with  us,  I  have  no  doubt.  But  he 
is  so  beset  by  spies,  and  so  hampered  by  the  position  of  our  brothers  in 
the  army  and  navy,  ttfat  he  even  tries  to  hide  the  secret  of  his  thoughts 
from  himself." 

Thus  the  brothers  conversed  until  Schwartz  returned  and  claimed 
the  Captain's  car;  who  began  by  asking  what   news   he   brought  from 

••  The  Colonel  (so  he  always  designated  B — )  likes  your  plan  mightily, 
sir,"  replied  Schwartz,  "  if  you  can  rub  through  with  it.     But  he  is 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  155 

afraid,  from  all  Tie  can  learn,  that  them "  fellows  at  Lynchburg  may  be 
too  many  fur  you;  so,  he  say.",  you  n  ust  find  out  exactly  how  that  is, 
and  if  you  don't  think  it  a  pretty  good  chance,  just  slip  down  along 
the  line,  toward  the  middle  of  November,  and  join  him." 

"If  I  do  so,  whpre  am  I  to  find  him  precisely  f"  asked  Douglas-. 

"Just  where  the  Petersburg  railroad  crosses  the  line,"  said  Schwartz. 
"  You  see  the  folks  there  arc  all  friendly,  because  as  long  as  things  stay 
.as  they  are,  their  railroad  an't  worth  an  old  flint,  and  so  they  are  patch- 
ing up  all  the  old  cars,  and  fixing  every  thing  ier  the  Colonel,  as  soon 
as  he  can  start  a  regiment  or  so,  to  make  a  dash  at  Petersburg,  find  so 
hold  on  there  till  the  rest  of  his  men  join  him.  Now,  if  we  were  to  be 
the  first  there,  Captain,  I  have  a  notion  that  we'd  be  the  very  boys  for 
them  chaps  at  Petersburg." 

"  I  shoukUlike  that  well,"  said  Douglas.  "  But  I  understand  my  old 
acquaintance,  Col.  Mason,  at  Lynchburg,  has  a  great  desire  to  see  me, 
and  I  should  hate  to  disappoint  him." 

"  I  don't  think  he  commands  there  now,"  said  Schwartz.  "There 
is  another  regiment  come  from  the  North  to  join  him,  and  they  say  the 
other  is  the  oldest  colonel." 

"That  is  of  course,"  said  Douglas,  "for  Mason  is  the  youngest  in 
the  army.  But  I  am  not  sorry  for  the  exchange,  for  they  have  hardly 
sent  as  good  a  one.  There  is  not  a  man  among  them  I  would  not 
rather  meet  than  Mason.  Have  you  been  able  to  learn  the  particulars 
of  their  force  there  ?" 

"  As  well  as  I  can  understand,"  replied  Schwartz,  "  the  whole  num- 
ber is  not  far  from  a  thousand,  and  may  be  a  few  more." 

"A  thousand  !  Can  we  raise  men  enough  to  strike  at  them  before 
they  think  of  it?" 

"  I  have  not  a  doubt  of  it,  sir,  rf  we  could  get  at  thorn  on  fair  terms. 
The  people  along  down 'between  here  and  Staunton  river  don't  like  the 
thoughts  of  what  them  fellows  may  do  to  them,  and  they  are  keen  to 
take  them  before  they  arc  ready.  I  talked  to  the  head-men  among 
them  as  you  told  me,  and  they  all  seo  that  the  right  way  is  to  try  to  get 
the  first  blow.  Because,  you  see,  Captain,  when  we  an't  gaining  we 
are  losing.  If  we  let  the  enemy  hold  Lynchburg,  and  they  find  two 
regiments  will  not  do,  they  will  bring  four,  and  so  on,  till  they  get  the 
upper  hand,  and  then  they  will  pay  these  poor  fellpwa  about  here  for 
old  and  new.  Bu!  if  we  could  make  out  t"  give  them  a  real  bi 
and  so  drive  them  clean  off,  why  all  the  country  as  far  as  the  1 1 
bannock  would  rise  that  minute,  and  they'd  have  enough  to  do  to  hold 
their  own  at  Fredericksburg." 

"  I  suppose  you  said  all  this  to  Mr.  1! — ?" 


TUB    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

••  T.  ■  1  did,  sir  ;  and  lie   think-  ju.-t    as   we  do  ahout  it.  only 

.'•     uL  attacking  a  fortified  Camp,  as  they  call  it.  just  with 
riilo.' 

■•  He  i>  righl  about  that,"  n  plied  Douglas.'    "  Riflemen  arc  tl, 

in  the  world  to  defend  ■  breast  work.  but   they  are  the  wont  to 

attaek  one.  J  had  hopeej  however,  that  w<  might  have  drawn  out  the 
enemy  by  sonic  devite,  even  when  Mason  commanded.  Be  is  b> 
brave  to  be  ashamed  to  be  prudent.  1  wish  1  knew  whom  they  hsvwi 
sent  to  supersede  him.  But  whoever  he  is,  it  ia  a  hundred  to  one.  that 
being  set  over  the  head  of  an  abler  man,  he  will  be  impatient  ko  show 
bia  superiority  Ly  reversing  his  predecessors  plans,  and  shaming  tin 
prudence  of  Mason  by  soaic  hasty  display  of  valor.  If  I  did  hut  know 
who  was  in  command  !" 

"  I  tried  to  find  that  out,"  replied  Schwartz;  "because  F  kjicw  you 
were  pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  most  of  them.  You  reosembot, 
sir,  you  told  me  from  the  first  almost  exactly  how  this  Col.  Mason  was 
going  to  do.  But  I  could  not  find  any  body  that  could  tell  me  the 
lieu  Colonels  name.  But  whoever  he  is,  Mr.  B —  thinks,  and  so  dol. 
hut  that  is  nothing,)  and  I  have  a  notion  you  do  too  partly,  air,  that 
if  we  mean  to  do  any  thing  with  them,  we  must  try  to  catch  them  some- 
where between  hen-  ami  Lynchburg/' 

"  1  am  afraid  that   i-   all   too    true."    said    I>ou-las,  "  and   if  no  such 

chance  i  tiers,  we  shall  have  to  jrive  them  the  slip  as  B—  psoj  i  see;  ami 

I  should  hate  it." 

•And  so  would  I."  said  Schwartz;  "and  so  you  see.  sir.  I  have 
been  trying  to  fix  a  sort  of  a  plan  to  draw  them  out,  and  that  is  what  1 
want  to  tell  you  about." 

What  this  plan  was,  the  next  chapter  shall  disclose. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  157 


,     CHAPTER  XXXII. 

And  yet  1  knew  him  a  notorious  liar; 

Think  him  a  great-way  fool — solely  a  caward 

Shakspkare. 

"You  must  understand,  Captain,"  continued  Schwartz,  "that  I  had 
allotted  to  fall  in  with  your  hrothcr  about  Little  Roanoke  bridge,  where 
our  roajds  conic  together.  The  people  there  awe  friendly,  and  mighty 
clever  people,  and  if  they  don't  know  all  about  me,  they  don't  want 
much  of  it ;  for  they  are  our  own  sort  of  folks,  and  true  as  steel.  So  ' 
I  thought  I  could  depend  on  them  to  take  notice  for  me  when  such  a 
man  might  pass,  and  let  me  know.  When  I  got  there,  by  all  I  could 
learn,  your  brother  had  not  gone  by;  and,  as  I  was  pretty  tired,  and 
that  is  one  of  the  places  where  I  commonly  lie  by  to  pick  up  news,  I 
thought  I  would  stop  a  while.  ^ 

•"  I  had  not  been  there  long,  before  here  comes  the  Captain  that 
commands  the  company  at  Farniville*  and,  if  ever  I  saw  a  conceited 
fool,  you  may  be  sure  he  is  one."  What  he  was  after,  the  Lord  knows. 
He  said  he  was  a  rcconnoitering,  but  I  have  a  notion  he  was  just  look- 
ing for  some  body  to  talk  to;  and  as  the  folks  there  an't  got  much  chat 
for  any  body,  he  just  claps  to  talking  to  me.  And  he  run  on  about 
one  thing  and  another,  and  there  was  nothing  I  wanted  to  know  but 
what  he  told  1113,  only  just  1  knew  it  all  before.  Lut  I  thought,  may 
be,  I  might  get  something  out  of  him,  so  I  let  him  talk,  and  I  sot  and 
listened. 

'<  After  a  while  he  gets  to  talking  about  you.     And,  Lord  !  how  he 
wished  \<>u  would  conic  in  his  way;  and  how  he   would   have  served 
you,  if  you  had  tried  to  beat  up  his  quarters,  like  you'  did  them   fel- 
lows at  Lync;  burg.     But  he  was  in  hopes  to  have   a   clip  at  ypu  yet,    • 
only  just  you  were  always  hiding  and  skulking  in  the  mountains,  like  a 
wolf,  and  then    coming  dowq  in    the   night  to  kill  sheep.     And   he 
reckoned  you  kttetc  where  the  dogs,  was,  and   took   care  to  keep  out  of 
their  way.     And  then  he  laughed,  and   thought  he  was  mighty  smart. 
Bo,  thinks  I,  'stranger,  if  you  hive  a  mind  to  get  into   hot   water,  may 
be  you  may  have  a  chance.'     Bo  I  speaks  up;  and,  says  I,  'after  all,  that 
.  Captain  Douglas  an't.  half  the  man  he's  cracked  up  for,  no  how.'" 
"  Do  you  know  him  f"  says  he. 
."I  guetfe  I  do,"   says  I;  "he   is  cunning  enough,  and  he  has  got 


158  THE    PAl'.TIsAN    I.B-iDER. 

trick  and  countersigns  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way  ; 

but,"  says  I,  "  if  ■  man  could  just  get  hold  of  his  signs,  and  so  get  at 
him,  he  an't  nothing  for  a  right,  real,  hard  tight." 
"  They  tell  me/' says  he,  "there  an't  no  Buch  thing  as  getting  in 

twenty  miles  of  him,  or  mofe,  may  he;   and   all   the   folks  through  the 
country  tlicre  stands  guard  fox  him",  arid  nobody  else  knows  where  he  is  ' 
"  That's  very  true/'  says  I;  '•  but  then,  you  s<  e,  stranger,  when  too 
many  folks  has  got  a  secret,  then  it  an't  a  seen  t  no  more." 
"  Jt's  a  wonder,    says  he,  "some  of  them  don't  tell." 
"May  be  they  cannot  get  any  thing  by  telling,"  says  I,     ''There's 
many  a  poor  fellow  there,  to  my  knowing,  that  don't  Bee  a  dollar  osjkji 
a  year,  and  its  mighty  Jittle  the  Bight  of  a  lew  yellow  jackets  would  not 
make  them  tell,  only  just  they  never  seed  any,  and   don't    kjiuw   what 
they  are.      But  they'd  be  right  apt  to  find  out." 

"  Vuu  talk  like  you  know  that  part  of  the  country,"  says  he.     "  May 

■  i  know  something  about  it." 
'•  May  be  1  (flight,"  says  I.  "  I3ut  then,"  says  I,  "it  don't  In  emu.. 
a  poor  fellow,  like  me,  to  know  any  thing  that  a  grand  offioer,  with  his 
line  apperlets.  all  of  Solid  gold,  don't  know.  Lord  !"  Bays  1,  "  if  I  had 
but  half  the  money  you  give  lor  your  appcrlets,  1  n<k<,n  I'd  know 
something  then." 

"  And  with  that,  he   looks   right  hafd   at  me,  and   says  he,  'may  be 
■you'd  like  to  list  lor  a  soldier.' 

"  May  be  I  would,"  says  I,  "  if  they  pays  me  well.      'Cause  you  sec," 
says  I,  "sir,  as  to  the  Country  ami  the    President,  and  all  that,  its  what 
I  don't  know  nothing  about';  only  I   takes  their  part  as  takes  my  part. 
And  that's  the  reason,"  sa\s  I,  "  I  would  not  stay  up  yonder." 
••  Why,"  says  he,  "  do  you  live  there,  when  you  arc  at  home  ''." 
"  I  cannot  say,"  says  I,  "that  1  have  got  a  home  rightly  any  where. 
But  I  did  live  there,  alter  a  fashion;  and  they  wanted   me  to  do  like 
the  rest  of  them,  and  quit  my  business  and  keep  guard,  and  stop  every 
man  that  could  not   give   the   BJgDff.      And    what   was  *I   to   get   by  it? 
Just  nothing  at  all.      If  I   had  any  bread   of  my  own    to  eat,  why   I 
might   eat   it;  and    if  1    killed    a    deer,  they'd    take   their  share,  and 
thought  they  did  greal  things  if  I  hey  let   me   keep  the  skin  ;  but  as  to 
pay,  they  don't  think  of  such  a  thing.      But  that  would  not  do  forme," 
i  ;   "and,  more  than  that,  it  won't   do  for  more,  besides  me,  what- 
ever Captain  Douglas  may  think  of  it,  I  can  tell  him." 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "  if  you'll  list  with  me  you  shall  have  pay,  and 
bounty,  and  clothes,  and  rations,  and  all.  'Cause,"  say*  he,  "the  Presi- 
dent, he  keeps  the  key  of  the  treasury,  and  we  are  his  soldiers,  and  we 
all  live  like  fighting  cocks,  1  can  tell  you." 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  159 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  I'd  like  to  list  well  enough',  only  just  I  guess  if 
once  you  had  me  for  a  soldier,  you'd  make  me  tell  all  I  know,  and  ax 
me  no  odds;  and,"  says  I,."  I  have  been  a-thinking,  if  I  could  meet 
with  any  right  clever  gentleman,  that  would  pay  me  for  telling,  I'd  tell 
it  all  first,  and  then  list  afterwards. 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "  do  you  know  Douglas's  signs,  enough  to  carry  a 
man  to  his  camp  as  a  friend  ?" 

"  I  guess  I  do,"  says  I,  "  and  more  than  that,  too." 
H  And  what  do  you  know,"  says  he. 
"  That's  telling,"  says  I. 

"  But,"  says  he,  "  I  rcant  to  know  all  about  it,"  says  he,  "because 
Col.  Mason,  there,  at  Lynchburg,  is  determined  to  break  Douglas  up, 
if  he  can  get  at  him;  and  he  is  looking  every  day  for  more  men  from 
the  North  to  help  him." 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  I  can  put  him  in  a  way  to  get  at  him,  and  not  go 
up  there  into  the  mountains,  neither.  'Cause,"  sa^s  I,  "that's  ay 
ugly  place.  It  an't  one  regiment,  nor  two  neither,  hardly,  that  could 
do  much  there.  And  then,  again,  if  Douglas  was  to  find  too  many 
coming  against  him,  he'd  be  away  t'other  side  6f  Salem  before  they'd 
get  there." 

"  And  how  is, a  body  to  get  at  him  ?"  says  he. 
"  Ah  !"  says  I,  "  that's  a  long  story." 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "  I  see  what  you  are  after,  and  if  you'll  put  me  in 
•    a  way  to  give  Col.  Mason  a  fair  clip  at  him,  it  will  make  my  fortune, 
.    and  then  I'll  be  bound  to  see  you  paid  handsomely." 
"  That  an't  what  I  am  after,"  says  I. 
"  Why,  don't  you  want  money  ?"  says  he. 
"  To  be  sure  I  do,"  says  I;  "  but  that  an't  money." 
"  Well,"  says  he,  "  tell  me  wh  t  you  can  do,  and  I  will  tell  you  what 
I'll  do." 

"  That's  something  like,"  says  I.  "  As  to  what  I  can  do,  I  can  put 
you  in  a  way  to  catch  Captain  Douglas  out  of  the  mountains,  with  U 
many  men  as  you  please  to  bring  agin  him." 

"  Well,"  says  he,  "  if  you'll  do  that,  I'll  pay  you  a  hundred  dollars." 
"  The  dear  Lord  '."  says  I.     u  A  hundred  dollars!     I  never  expected 
to  have  that  much  money  iti  my  life  !" 

'•  May  be  it's  too  niucji,"  says  he.     "  May  be  fifty  will  do?'' 
"  No,  no,"  says  I ;  "a  hundred  will  do  mighty  well  ;  so  let  DM 
the  cash,  and  I'll  tell  you  all." 

"That  won't  do,"' says  ho.  "  How  do  I  know  that  what  you  arc 
going  tn  tell  me  will  do  mc  any  good  f" 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  I  reckon  if  one  won't  another  will." 


100  Tin;  tartisan  i.kader.       # 

arith  dint,  he  studied  a  white,  and  says,  he:  "  Well.  I'll  give  yoq 

tin  ii"!'-  for  a  hundred  dollar-,  to  be  paid  directly  after  Col   Masoi 
a  lick  at  Douglas  in  the  toW  Country,  by  my  help/' 

■•  ("aim.'t  JOU  L'ivr  DM  an  order  on  Mr.  Morton,  here,  in  the  sann 
way  f"  Baya  I. 

••  You  are  mighty  tight,"  Bays  he;  "  but  may  be  I  ran.'' 

Bo  with  that  he  speak.-  to  Mr.  Morton,  and  he  agreed  to  accept  the 
order.  You  sec,  sir,  Mr.  Morton,  as  1  told  you,  is  a  true  hearted  Yir- 
giniaD  ;  and  he  knows  me;  and  I  just  sorter  winked  at  him,  t-i  let  him 
know  all  was  sale.  For  as  to  that  fellow  paying  him  again*  after  In 
paid  me,  Mr.  Morton  had'nt  no  thought  of  it,  nor   I  neither.      But  he 

•  1  what  I  was  after,  and  says  he  to  the  Captain  :  "To  he  sure,  sir, 
its  nothing  I  would  not  do  to  serve  the  country."  And  with  that  thjey 
fixed  the  eider  all  light,  and  _Lrivcs  it  to  me,  and  1  slips  it  hack  again 
into  Mr.  Morton's .hand.  And  then  I  takes  the  Captain  out  again,  and 
fells  him  the  way  up  here;  and,  says  I,  "  Now,  if  you  can  get  to  sec 
I  'aptain  Douglas,  yon  must  fix  a  g 1  story  to  tell  him." 

••  And  what  must  that  be  V   sa_\  s  he. 

■•  Whv,  you  have  only  just  to  tell  him  that  you  have  raised  a  pared 

in    Bedford    county,  or   somewhere   thereaway,    sorter    toward 

Lynchburg,  and  ycu  want  to  ku  m  where  to  join  him     Then  he'll  be 

8ure  to  tell  you  when  he  is  coining  down  out  of  Ul6  mountains,  and  he'll 

name  a  plaoc  for  you  to  meet  him  at,  ami  then  if  you*don't  fix  him 

about  right,  it  an't  my  fault." 

"  1  Jut  how  am  1  to  L'<  t  to  him  ':"  pays  he. 

'•  That's  it."  says   I,   "  an  1    that's  what    you    never    could    do  without 

help.     You  sec/'  Bays  I,  "sir,  every  man  in  that  country  lives  hy  wont- 
ing, more  or  less ;  and  every  man  has  a  rifle  lor  hiuftelf,  and  one  for 

cvery'one  of  his  boys,;md  may  he  more.  And  when  a  fellow  is  going 
any  where,  he  never  knows  when  he  may  Bee  a  deer;  9t  you  ncv<  r  can 
•  eatch  them  without  their  rifles.  Hut  then  you  may  travel  all  through 
(be  country,  and  you  won't  see  a  man  that  look-  any  ways  like  a  soldier. 
And  when  they  want  to  stop  a  man,  they  don't  bawl  at.  him  and  ask 
for  the  Countersign.  That  sort  of  thing  may  do  in  BO  army,  but  it 
won't  do  with  folks  that  have  no!  got  an  army  to  hack  them.  So  you 
may  fall  in  With  ever  so  many  of  them,  and  they'll  file'  you  out;  but 
if  they  (lnx.se  to  let  you  pass,  you'll  never  iind  them  out,  nor  know 
what  tiny  ar<-  after." 

"Bui how  are  they  to  find  me  out,''  says  he,  "if  they  an't  got  no 
countersign  V 

"They  an't  got  no  countersign,  rightty"  says  I;  "hut  it  is  pretty 
mucii  the  same   thing,  if  a  man  asks  a   civil   question,  and   you  don't 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  161 

know  what  answer  to  give  him.  Now  suppose  you  were  travelling  along 
there,  and  you  meets  one  of  them  fellows,  and  he  was  to  ask  you, 
mighty  innocent  like,  what  parts  you  were  from.  What  would  you 
say?" 

"I  don't  know,"  says  he.  P  May  be  I'd  tell  him  I  was  from  down 
about  Halifax  court-house." 

"  And  that  minute,"  says  I,  ''he'd  know  all  about  you." 

"  How's  that,"  says  he. 

"  Why,  that's  the  way  they  ax  for  the  countersign,"  says  I. 

u  What  is  the  countersign  ?"  says  he. 

"  Currituck,"  says  I ;  "  when  they  ax  you  that  you  must  say  you 
oome  from  Currituck." 

"And  is  that  all?"  says  he.  ''Why  that  is  a  countersign,  sure 
enough.     Dut  don't  they  never  change  it?" 

"No,"  says  I;  "the  men  arc  too  much  scattered  all  through  the 
country,  for  that;  but  it  answers  mighty  well,  the  way  they  fix  it. 
They  don't  let  you  off  with  one  question,  just  so,  but  they'll  ask  you 
a  heap  more;  and  they'll  say  a  heap  of  simple  things  to  you,  just  to 
hear  what  you'll  say ;  and  just  about  the  time  you  think  you  have 
fooled  them,  they'll  find  you  out.  There's  a  parcel  of  sharp  fellows 
up  thereaway,  mind,  I  tell  you;  and  you'll  have  to  get  your  lesson 
mighty  well  before  you  go  there.  You  see,  some  will  ask  you  one 
question  and  some  another.  You  don't  know  what  its  going  to  be;  so 
I  must  tell  you  all  the  straight  of  it,  and  you  must  practise  before  we 
part;  and  then,"  says  I,  "you  can  write  it  all  down,  and  all  the  way 
you  go  you  can  be  saying  it  over."  So,  with  that,  sir,  I  tells  him  the 
biggest  part  of  our  questions:  but  you  may  be  sure  I  give  him  wrong 
answers  to  every  one  of  them.  But'thcn  I  told  our  people  at  the  dif- 
ferent stations  along  about  him,  and  told  them  to  pass  him,  and  never 
let  him  know  but  what  his  answers  were  all  right.  So  then  I  tells  him 
that  when  he  got  to  you,  you  would  want  to  know,  may  be,  how  he 
came  by  flic  signs  ;  and,  says  I,  "  when  he  axes  you  that,  you  mutt  till 
him  you  got  them  from  Job  Dixon,"  says  I.  "  That's  a  fellow  the 
Captain  keeps  busy  recruiting  away  down  the  country,  and  when  he 
hears  that,  he  won't  suspicion  you  the  least  in  the  world  ;  Van 

ays  I,  "the  man  they  call  Job  Dixon  has  got  another  name 
besides  that,  and  that  nam  an't  nothing  but  a  sort  of  count  n 
for  the  Captain  to  know  the  men  by  that  be  sends  in."  Y< 
Captain.  I  fixed  all  this  way,  thai  I  might  Ict.y.u  know  exactly,  so  thai 
if  the  fellow  should  come  when  I  was  out  of  the  way,  you  might  know 
what  to  think  of  him,  just  as  if  I  was  here.  And  it  won't  do  to  lei 
ee  me,  no  how. 
11 


TiJi  ':i. 

d  Douglas.  "  Well,  let  me  nuke  a  memorandum 
it  Bame." 

Saving  this,  he  took  a  letter  from  Ins  pocket,  and  endorsing  the 
Bame  of  .Tub  Dixon  on  the  back  of  it,  as  that  of  the  writer,  threw  it 
a  table. 

•That  will  do,"  suid  Schwartz.  '•  Se  will  be  here  bright  ami  early 
in  the  morning,  and  when  he  sees  thai,  he  will  feel  as  aafe  aa  a  rat  in  a 
mill." 

"Hero  in  the  morning!"  said  D  nglaa,  "HoweanyoiibeeBTeofthat?" 

"I  seed  him  from  the  t« >p  of  the  mountain,"  replied  Sckwarts, 
"  when  Witt  stopped  him.  I  told  Witt  to  keep  him  all  night,  and 
1  him  on  in  the  morning,  with  a  couple  of  fellows  to  show  him  the 
way.  and  guard  him." 

-•  li'  that  is  the  case/'  Baid  Douglas,  '•  1  can  meet  him  at  the  pis/wet, 
and  stop  him  there;  for  I  would  rather  he  should  not  sec  this  place. 
Hut  what  arrangement  would  yen  advi.'C  me  to  make  with  him'.'" 

••  "Why  the  Colonel  says,"  replied  Behwarts,  "that  lie  wants  you  t«> 
join  him  at  his  rendezvous  about  the  last  of  November,  or  may  be  a 
little  earlier;  so  whatever  you  do  ought  to  be  dune  time  enough  to  fall 
back,  if  we   get  worsted,  and    slip    aloBg   down    the    Hue,  according  to 

year  aid  plan.     So  I  am  a  thinking  H  would  be  well  to  fix  the  time  for 

;ing  this  fellow  about  the  tenth  of  the  month,  and  then,  if  we  can 
h  them  in  their  rwn-trap,  W6  shall  have  time  to  follow  up  the  blow 
und  break  up  their  whole  establishment  there  at  Lynchburg,  and  then 
Blanch  boldly  down  the  straight  road.*' 

••  Do  you  know  of  any  crossing  place  on  Staunton  river,  in  the  di- 
rection of  Lynchburg,"  asked  Dougjas,  "that  would  answer  for  an  am- 
buscade '!'' 

"  I  have  a  notion,"  said  Sohwarts,  "  that  Jones's  Ford  would  suit  bb 
well  as  any  other;  because  tin  r»'s  a  deep  hollow  comes  down  on  both 
sides  of  it,  and  thick  woods  on  the  hills." 

•'That  will  do  then,"  said  Douglas.  "So  now  let  us  take  our  sup- 
per and  go  to  rest;  for  I  must  he  at  the  piquet  in  time  to  meet  your 
man.  Before  you  go  to  sleep,  Buppose  you  Bend  one  of  our  hoys  to  tell 
ahem  to  stop  him  if  be  gets  there  before  me." 

The  BUppi  i  was  produced,  and  fully  justified  what  'W  itt  had  told 
Arthur  of  the  fare  he  might  expect.  As  to  lodging,  bear-skin.-  were 
plenty,  and    BO  were   blankets,  wh\oh    had    been    collected    during  the 

.lin.-t  Lynchburg.  But  a  rock  is  a  hard  bed,  put  OB  it 
what  you  will.  Yet  youth,  and  health,  and  high  excitement,  gave 
Arthur  a  most  luxurious  supper,  and  a  night  of  such  sleep  as  the  BfBt 
lodged  prince  in  Europe  might  envy. 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  160 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

The  sunless  glen,  whose  sunken  shrubs  most  weep. 

• 
When  Arthur  awoke,  he   found  himself  alone.     The  sun  was  higfl 

in  the  heavens,  but  a  deep  shadow  hung  over  the  dark  silcn,  into  which 
his-  rays  never  looked,  except  at  noon-day.  Arthur  now  walked  out. 
and  amused  himself  with  gazing  around  on  the  singular  spot  which  hi> 
brother  had  chosen  as  a  place  of  refuge.  It  was,  indeed,  a  place  of 
ftrength,  which  seemed  calculated  to  bid  defiance  to  any  thing  but 
famine. 

The  glen,  at  this  point,  might  be  some  two  hundred  feet  deep.  Above 
and  below,  the  little  stream  filled  the  whole  chasm,  pouring  furious! 
along  between  overhanging  pliffs.  The  tops  of  these,  except  in  the 
immediate  vicinity,  were  crowned  with  lofty  trees,  which,  nodding  to 
each  other  across  the  gu'lph,  in  some  places  nearly  intermingled  their 
branches.  The  va-lley,  just  where  Douglas  had  pitched  his  camp,  was 
somewhat  wider.  Just  above,  the  stream  seemed  to  gush  from  the  verj 
bowels  of  the  mountain,  dashing,  as  it  tumbled  over  a  fall  of  twenty 
r  thirty  feet,  against  the  dark  evergreens  which  clustered  both  Bides 
of  the  gulph.  From  thence,  flowing  through  a  wider  space,  it  still 
confined  itself  to   a  narrow  and  deep  channel,  scooped  into  an  aim 

rnous  bed,  under  the  western  cliff.  Thence,  turning  abruptly  to 
the  southeast,  it  swept  across  the  dell  to  the  opposite  hill,  from  which 
it  again  recoiled  in  like  manner.  There  was  thus,  on  each  side,  between 
the  hill  and  the  receding  stream,  a  spot  of  dry  ground,  or  rather  ro 
It  was  indeed  nothing  but  a  rocky  shelf,  a  little  above  inundation,  jut- 
ting in  a  half  moon  from  the  base  of  the  cliff.     About  the  middle  of 

gefrom  hill  to  hill,  the  stream  turn'  .  the  higl 

points  of  which,  rising  above  th<  ami 

!.  but  neither  commodious, 
.,  r.  to  the  eye  of  a  Strang 
The  sort  of  stair  which   afforded  tie-  only  approach  to  tl 
.  hung  directly  over  the  stream',  at  the  poiirt  where,  having 
from  the  western  Bide  of  the  glen,  it  again  whirled  back,  leai 
have  said,  a  dry  spot  on   it-  -in.      At  the  upper  corn  I 


1<'.4  THK    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

this  shelf,  where  it  touched  the  cliff,  the  path  reached  the  bottom; 
and  ri 1 1  hundred  yards  below,  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  same 
platform,   hung    tlic   tent-cloth   that    indicated    the   quarters  of  the 

chief. 

The  sort  of  cave,  the  mouth  of  which  was  concealed  by  this,  was  but 
n  deepening  of  th<  derthe  cliff,  which  every  where  afforded  ■ 

partial  shelter  from  the  weather,  and  b  complete  defence  against  r<»cks 
tumbled  from  ab  ive.  Under  this  were  the  rude  beds  and  camp-fires  of 
the  men.  and  in  front  of  them  i  breast-work  of  1  I  high  enough 

to  afford  protection  from  any  Bhot  tired  from  the  opposite  hill.  Between 
the  upper  log  and  that  next  below  it,  was  a  sort  of  loop-hole,  made 
by  cutting  corresponding  notches  in  each ;  and  as  the  edges  of 
the  cliffs  had  been  shorn  of  all  their  growth,  a  man  could  not 
show  himself  on  either,  without  being  exposed  to  the  fatal  fire  of 
men  directing  their  aim  with  a  rest,  and  in  all  the  coolness  of  perfect 
safety. 

The  most  curious  part  of  the  whole  establishment  was  a  sort  of  mill. 
At  tin  point  where  the  stream,  breaking  over  the  rocky  ledge  of  which 
I  have  Bpoken,  swept  away  around  the  shoulder  of  the  platform,  WS8 
placed  a  small  log  pen.  The  end  of  a  shaft,  projecting  from  it.  over- 
hung the  water.  Into  this  wen;  driven  stakes,  fitted  at  ore-  end  into 
large  auger-holes,  and,  at  the  (Jther,  spread  out  like  d  broad  oar.  These 
fan-like  extremities  dipped  in  the  water,  and,  yielding  to  its  force,  kept 
the  b1  ift  revolving  night  and  day.  Maohinery  equally  rude  connected 
its  movements  with  those  of  a  pair  of  light  mill-stones,  which  found  no 
rest,  and  required  m>  attention.  Though  grinding  less  than  a  bushel 
in  the  hour,  it  still  ground  tin  and  on,  affording  coarse  bread  for  the 
whole  company,  and  showing  how  true  the  old  adage,  that  "  fair  and 
softly  tro  far  in  B  day."  One  man  was  seen  to  replenish  the  hopper. 
Others  were  passing  and  re-possing,  each  with  his  share  of  meal.  The 
whole  was  covered  with  rude  boards.  Exposed  to  the  fire  of  each 
cliff,  it  was,  of  course,  capable  Of  being  made  to  command  both,  ami 
-ome  of  it>  features  showed  that  it  was  intended  to  he  occupied  a-  a 
towi  r  of  Btrength  in  ease  of  attaek. 

In  short,  to  the  nnpraetieed  eye  of  Arthur,   the  whole  presented  the 

appearance  of  impregnable  security  and   well   arranged  preparation. 

There  wa-  indeed  no  present  danger,  hut  the  place  had  been  ch> 
and  fitted  with  a  view  to  the  last  extremity.  The  course  of  tip-  stream, 
tending  to  the  South,  led  in  a  few  miles  into  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  and  in  that  direction  there  was  an  outlet  practicable, 
though  difficult  Between  the  camp  and  the  State  line  there  was 
no    point    at    which    the    '-leu    could     be    entered;    and    Douglas,    if 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  165 

driven  to  retreat  in  that  direction,  had  none  but  natural  obstacles  to 
overcome. 

Cold  weather  was  now  approaching,  and  there  was  no  station  where 
the  troops  of  Douglas  were  so  little  exposed  to  the  severity  of  the  sea- 
son as  this.  The  soft  air  from  the  waterfall,  though  never  warm,  was 
never  intensely  cold,  and  no  other  wind  but  that  from  the  South  ever 
entered  the  glen.  Hence  as  many  men  as  were  not  engaged  on  active 
duty  were  assembled  here.  Still  the  number  present  was  but  small. 
Some  were  at  the  piquet,  some  on  the  scout.  Besides,  it  was  now  the 
hunting  season,  and  many  were  abroad  in  the  woods,  as  the  car- 
casses brought  in  during  the  course  of  the  morning  plainly  showed. 

Arthur  now  looked  around  for  Schwartz,  and  hearing  his  voice  be- 
hind one  of  the  breast-works,  passed  around  the  end  of  it,  and  sflently 
joining  the  circle,  listened  to  his  discourse,  which  seemed  to  be  a  sort 
of  military  lecture. 

u  You  see,  boys,"  said  he,  "  as  to  (ictam,  or  whatever  they  call  it. 
that  sort  of  thing  an't  made  for  the  like  of  us.  When  a  parcel  of 
fellows  lists  for  soldiers,  just  because  they  an't  got  nothing  else  to  d<>. 
and  may  be  one  half  of  them  is  cowards,  and  the  other  half  not  much 
better,  they  are  obliged  to  have  rules  to  go  by.  Because,  if  once  yon 
can  beat  it  into  a  fellow's  head  that  after  he  has  got  into  danger  it  is 
safer  for  him  to  stand  still  than  to  run  away,  why  then  the  worse  scared 
he  is  the  surer  he  will  be  to  stay  there.  But  it  an't  so  with  us,  be- 
cause if  any  of  us  was  any  way  scary,  he  would  not  be  here  no  how. 
The  only  rule  for  us  is  the  Indian  rule. 

"In  the  first  place,  i4  is  our  business  always  to  know  where  the 
inimy  is  before  he  knows  where  we  arc,  and  then,  if  we  don't  want  to 
fight  him,  keep  out  of  his  way.  Now  the  right  wa}T  to  do  that,  is  just 
to  squander,  like  a  flock  of  partridges. 

"  Then  if  you  are  jroing  to  fight,  the  only  rule  is  to  give  the  word, 
and  let  every  man  kill  all  he  can,  and  take  care  of  himself  the  best  be 
can.  Now  that  way  the  riglars  fight — if  one  man  in  ten  kills  a  man, 
they  call  it  desperate  bloody  work.  But  I  reckon  if  there  was  an 
inimy  now  coming  up  the  valley  to  the  foot  of  the  Devil's  Back-bone, 
and  the  word  was  to  kill  all  we  could  before  he  got, there,  juty  of  us 
here  would  feel  mighty  cheap  if  he  did  not  kill  moi  body. 

'•  And   mind,   boys,    whether    we    fight   Ot  run,  whether  re  k 
gethet,  qr  squander,  'two  and  two'  is  tie  word.     You  most  all  n 
yourselves  two  and  two,  to  stand   togi  thcr  and  run  together,  t.. 
together  and  die  t  igether.     One  of  you  nttsl  '•,,',]  himself  Dumber 
and  the  other  number  two,  and  then,  if  there's  a  hundred  together  and 


Til'  !!R. 

.  number  two  d  till  number  one  has  fin 

.  again.     Y.<:i  sec,  men,  a  fellow  I  I  aim  when  he  knowi 

another  i  liit  ii'  he  mis  in  that  way 

in  a  hundred  when  every  one  knows  that's  1 
Fifty  rifles  will  stop  a  troop  of  horse,  and  a  hundred  cannot 
morje.     But  if  the  puns  are  all  empty,  then  1  •  whala 

left  of  them  slashing  away  with  the  broad-awards  like  devils.  But  let 
"herb  be  ■  lew  more  guns  to  pepper  away  at  them. while  the  first  are 
loading,  and  they  will  go  to  the  right-about  mighty  quiek. 

••  Now  mind  what  L  tell  you,  boys,  and  the  first  titm  it  oomes  to  the 
pinch,  you'll  say  old  ScUwarti  did'nt  fight  Indians  bo  long  for  nothing. 
\nd  as  to  running,  any  man  that's  afraid  to  run  when  he  vets  cause, 
is  half  a  coward,  any  how.  Do  you  run  just  when  you  pleat 
I'd  hate  to  depend  00  a  man  to  fight  that  1  Could  not  trust  to  run. 
There  is  no  harm  in  running,  if  yctfi  know  where  you  are  running  to, 
and  your  friends  know  it  too;  and  the  right  way  is  to  fix  a  place,  every 
morning,  to  meet  at  night,  and  let  every  man  get  there  as  he  can,  and 
do  what  mischief  he  can.  Bat,  mind,  if  it  comes  t<i  that,  always  run 
two  and  two,  and  then  one  can  help  another)  and  if  one  oomes  up 
missing,  the  ether  can  tell  v. hat's  become  <>f  him. 

••  I'm  telling  our  boys,"  i tinned  Schwartz,  who  now  observed  Ar- 
thur^ "  some  of  the  lessons  1  learned  among  the  Shawnees.     X< 
Mr.  Arthur,  (yon  must  not  think  strange  of  my  Bailing  yoa  so,  sir.  for 

all  your  family  seem    like    my   own    flesh  and  h! I  to  ni< — for  all  you 

don't  know  how  thai  i  sir,  the  Captain  is  a  regular  officer, 

huilt  plum  from  the  ground  op;  but  for  all  that,  he  knows  that  all  this 
is  tni''  :  and,  before  now,  when  he  and  I  have  been  setting  Over  the 
lire,  m  night,  he  has  told  me  about  one  Gineral  Braddook,  T  think  they 
Called  him,  that  got  his  men  Bhot  all  to  piece.-,  and  himself,  too,  just  be- 
cause he  would  not  believe  that  there  was  any  other  way  to  fight  but  just 
his  way.    Now,  yen  Bee,  sir.  the  reason  why  be  was  taken  at  an  onpUuh 

.:.  -.  that  be  Wasfighting  agin  Indians.      Well,  suppose  WC  fight   Indian 

fashion — will  not  that  be  pretty  much  the  same  thing  ?  May  be  we 
an't  exactly  op  to  that,  but  we  must   do   the  Best  we  ean  ;  (or  as  n 

fighting  the  riglan  just  in  their  own  way,  why  they'll  beat  US  as  long 
as  the  sun  .-hi; 

"Do  you  mind  that   night,"  continued  Sohwarts,  laughing,  "  when 

at  nant  and  his  men  came  there  to  your  unele's  to  take  him  and 
laptain?      That   was    Indian    play    for  you.      I    God!    if   I  had  BOf 

lieardtHht  the  Colonel  was  there,  I  Bhould  have  knowed  be  was  at  the 
fixing  of  that  busim  as.  STou  see,  sir,  that  is  what  a  man  learns  by  liv- 
ing in  places  where  a  body  is  never  safe;  and  the   upshot  of  it  is,  that 


THE  PARTISAN  'LEADER.  167 

after  a  while  he  gels  so  that  he  never  can  he  in  any  danger.     It's  like 
learning  to  sleep  with  one  eye  always  open." 

Schwartz  now  rose  from  the  ground,  where  he  had  been  sitting,  and 
brushing  the  allies  from  his  leathers,  joined  Arthur,  and  they  repaired 
to  the  tent  where  their  simple  meal  awaited  them.  From  him  the 
youth  learned  that  his  brother  had  repaired  to  the  piquet  at  an  early 
hour;  and  to  the  piquet,  gentle  reader,  toe  will  now  follow. 


Ms  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHAPTER    X  \  XIV. 


-He-  hn> 


Sufficient  for  itself  \\<  own  reward. 

Why  tliiuk  of  liim!     .An  honorable  f 

He  seeks  no  other  guerd  Ax8ntk*3> 

was  at  tlie  piquet  long  cnoiagh  before  the  arrival  of  hi.* 
guest,  to  make  such  arrangements  as  should  prevent  the  !Vom 

Buspeeting  that  this  was  net  the  camp  he  was  desirous  t  see.  He  had 
no  mind  that  his  enemy  should  know  the  real  nature  and  precise  posi- 
tion of  his  main  stronghold.  Hence  he  'had  determined  to  give  hina 
the  meeting  at  the  piquet,  and  took  pains  to  provide,  aa  if  for  hia  own 
ordinary  accommodating,  such  a  breakfast  16  he  would  have  been  con- 
tent to  furnish  ut  his  own  quarters  for  the  most  honored  nailer. 

The  spy,  who  had  learned  little  of  hi     :  indul- 

ge ut  art  which  is  technically  called  u  playing  old  soldier/'  had  been  it: 
bo  baste  ais  teat,  and  Witt,  who  nndentood  Schwarta's  game, 

did  not  hurry  him.  The  breakfast  hour,  therefore,  had  fully  arrived 
before  he  made  his  appearance.  He  came  accompanied  by  Witt  and 
another  of  bis  party;  and,  in  appearance  and  manners,  fully  answ< 
the  description  of  him  given  by  Schwartz.  He  was  a  tall,  red-haired 
man,  vain,  pert,  and  full  of  Belf-complaeencj.  Indeed,  bo  much  did 
he  display  of  a  satisfaction,  at  once  chuckling  and  childish,  that  Dou- 
glas,  even  though  unwarned,  must  I  sted  treachery.     Besides,  b 

never  could  hav  believed  a  being,  manifestly  so  frivolous  and  fooKsb 
capable  of  the  high  purpose  of  devoting  himself  to  a  life  of  toil,  hard 
•hip,  and  danger.  The  vain  and  s<  If-indulgen1  may  receive  moment 
impulses,  under  the  influence  of  which  brilliant  achievements  may  be 
suddenly  accomplished  ;  but  fr/ym  Buch  tb  i  tasks  of  study,  virtue,  and 
enduring  courage,  must  never  be  expected. 

I!'  ?(  ted,  at  first,  more  intent  upon  his  breakfast  than  anything 
else,  and  when  it  appeared,  made  faces  at  his  coarse  fere  which  ill  ac- 
corded with  his  professed  isdiflference  to  all  personal  inconvenience 
But,  bad  as  it  was,  he  contrived  to  BwaHow  enough  to  show  that  M  was 
not  prepared  to  play  the  ascetic  any  more  in  regard  to  the  quantity 
than  the  quality  of  his  food. 

"You  at*/'  said  Douglas,  "  the  life  we  lead.     If  you  are  not  pre- 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  169 

pared  to  submit   cheerfully  to  privations,  compared  to  wnich  what  yoa 
see  here  is  luxury,  you  should  not  join  us." 

"Damn  luxury,"  said  the  other.  "  What  do  I  care  about  luxury  ? 
To  be  sure,  I  have  been  used  to  it  all  my  life;  coffee  or  tea,  one,  every 
morning  for  breakfast;  and  good  lighf  bread,  and  potatoes  and  pics;  and 
then,  for  dinner,  pork  or  fresh  meat,  or  eod&h  at  least  every  day  in  the  week, 
and  all  sortsof  .<oss ;  and  then  pies  again,  and  cheese,  and  all  that.  But  I  am 
ready  to  give  it  all  up  to  serve  my  country,  and  live  as  hard  as  anybody." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  Douglas,  drawing  some  papers  from  his 
pocket.  Among  these  he  affected  to  search  in  vain  for  a  particular  pa- 
per, and  in  doing  so,  carelessly  threw  on  the  table  the  letter  endorsed 
with  the  name  Job  Dixon.  He  saw  that  it  caught  the  other's  eyes. 
and,  expressing  some  dissatisfaction  at  his  own  carelessness,  said  :  "You 
have  a  right  to  know,  before  you  join  us,  all  about  our  force,  and  I 
ought  to  show  you  my  last  return ;  but  I  have  it  not  at  hand,  though  I 
believe  I  know  pretty  well  the  number  of  my  men.  But  stay,"  con- 
tinued he,  interrupting  himself  with  a  start,  and  looking  at  the  gallant 
Captain  with  a  kceaness  that  made  his  very  back  ache,  "  How  came 
you  by  my  pass-words,  sir  ?" 

"  I  got  them  from  a  man  they  call  Job  Dixon,"  replied  the  trembling 
Captain. 

"  Job  Dixon  !"  replied  Douglas,  immediately  resuming  his  compla- 
cency, "  then  all  is  right." 

"  0  yes,  all  is  right,"  said  the  other,  recovering  from  his  alarm,  but 
more  fluttered  and  confused  than  ever.  "  He  told  me  that  wa'nt  his 
name,  sure  enough,  and  he  said  that  name  was  only  a  sort  of  a  counter- 
sign to  you." 

It  cost  Douglas  sdhie  effort  to  suppress  a  smile  at  seeing  the  delicate 
and  dangerous  office  of  a  spy  undertaken  by  one  so  destitute  of  all  the 
qualities  necessary  to  it;  but  he  commanded  himself,  and  asked  whether 
the  other  was  now  content  to  join  him. 

"  To  be  sure  I  am,"  said  he;  "  and  not  only  I,  but  fifty  more  a- 
fellows  as  ever  stepped  shoe-leather.     You  Bee,  thai  vaswbei  1  doubted 
about.     I   thought  may  be  as  I  had  such  a  compaay,  I  had  a  riglr 
set  up  for  myself;  but  after  I  heard  all  about  yoa  from  that  men,  Job 
Dixon,  or  whatever  else  his  name  is,  1  made  up  my  mind  to  join  you." 

"  Where  are  your  men  '.'"  asked  Douglas. 

"Tliej  are  all  about  homo  yet,"  Bftid  the  Captain,  "but  T  can  bring 
them  together  any  day,  and  any  place  you  I  name.      T   suppose 

you  don't  mean  to  stay  up  here  in  the  mountains  all  tin1  time,  and  may 
be  it  might  suit  as  well  f'r  me  to- fall  in  with  you  Bomewhi 

"  That  is  true,"  said  Douglas     "  We  are  not  so  well  off  here  for  ra- 


<* 


Tin:  partisan   ; 

here  we  lire  Btrong  enough.     A  regimenl  of  men  eould  not  (.-limb 
the  I  Bui  I  proposi  t->  move  >\>< 

li  uld  1m  in  nt  <>n  the  way.     What  <•  only  are 

men  in  '.'" 

■  In  Bedford  count;         •      I  the  other,  r<  peu;in:_r  his  lesson  exactly. 

"That  will  do,  then,"  said  Douglas.    ••  I    ■  to  march  against 

m,  al    Lynchburg,  early  in  November,  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  the 
:nontb  I  will  meet  yon  :it  Jones's  F  rd,  on  Staunton  river." 

"  I  cannot  say  that  1  know  exactly  wh<  r<   thai  Is,"  Baid  the  B] 

••  it  is  Uttle  out  of  your  way  into  any  pari  of  Bedford  county,"  said 
Douglas;  ""and  as  I  want  to  see  some  of  oar  friends  down  in  thai  <)uar- 
tcr,  1  will  ride  tliero  vritb  you.  I  am  told  Mason  is  pretty  Btrong,  and 
i  want  to  gel  all  hue  force  1  can, and  that  is  not  so  much  but  what  I 
shall  be  glad  of  your  help." 

"  Bow  many  men  have  yon.'"  asked  the  ^*:ulk^.•c  Captain. 

■•I  have  but  a  handful  Aire,  jusl  nowj  bul  1  am  sending  out  orden 
lor  more  to  join  on  the  route,  and  I  ana  in  hopes  to  reach  the  river 
with  lour  hundred  at  least.  I  Bhall  Btay  there, a(  sllevents,  till  more 
come  in  :  because  it  would  be  foolish  to  attack  Mas<  a's  regiment  with 
less  than  five  or  six  hundred!" 

"'I'll.'  will  do,"  said  the  other  j  "for  Mason  i-  than  four 

hundred  Btroi 

"Indeed!"  nepli  las,affi  (ting surprise  and  pleasure.    "Then] 

tin  pretty  sure  of  him.     1  had  heard  as  much  before,  bul  1  don't  trust 

afraid  there  was  a  trap  Bet  for  moj  but  now  I  am 

satiated,  and  if   I  can  leave    Staunton  river  withusix  hundred  men,  I 

hall  gather  '  [gel  to  Lynchburg  to  drive  Ma 

and  his  regimenl  before  me  like  ohaff." 

Having  said  this,  Douglas  Bet  about  the  necessary  arrangements  rbi 
mpanying  his  new  acquaintance  to  Jones's  Ford.  As  the  distance 
was  too  great  for  one  day.  In  proposed  to  pass  the  nigh!  al  thehousi 
u  trusty  friend,  from  whence  the  Yankee  officer  would  have  it  in  his 
pewes  t<>  reaoli  o  tavern,  two  miles  beyond  the  river,  the  aext  day.  II- 
now  despatched  a  note  to  Arthur, saying  that  he  wished  to  examine  tin 
.round  :;t  the  river,  in  company  with  him  and  Schwartz.  He  there- 
fore din  Bti  1  thi  tc  to  fbHow  at  a  cautious  distance,  so  as  nut  to.be  seen 
by  the  spy  j  topi  them  in  the  night,  and  take  up  their  quartered  a 
.house  in  advan  I,  and  the  next  day  proceed  to  the  dwelling  of  Mr. 
(lordoii,  near  the  river,  and   wait  for  him  there. 

Meantime  a  hofsej  thai  stood  piqueted  hard  by,  was  saddled,  and  1'ou- 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  171 

das  set  out,  accompanied  by  the  treacherous  Captain  and  the  faithful 
Witt. 

The  journey  was  made  without  any  occurrence  worth  toting.  In 
the  conversation  of  the  stranger  there  was  nothing  to  beguile  Douglas 
from  his  own  thoughts.  The  vain  babble  of  the  prating*  coxcomb  was 
all  wasted  on  the  impenetrable  Witt ;  and,  after  a  few  fruitless  attempts 
to  overcome  the  taciturnity  of  his  companions,  he  followed  their  exam- 
ple, and  the  greater  part  of  the  journey  was  made  in  silence.  Late  on 
the  second  evening  they  reached  the  river.  The  spy  was  directed 
the  public  house  on  the  other  side,  and  Douglas  and  Witt  returned  to 
Mr.  Gordon's,  where  they  found  Arthur  and  Schwartz. 

As  they  were  now  in  a  land  of  civilization  and  comfort,  Douglas  was 
not  sorry  to  obtain,  once  more,  a  good  night's  lodging,  which  his 
pitablc   friend  was   delighted    to  afford.     l>ut  this  rare  enjoyment  did 
not  make  him  forgetful  of  the  necessity  of  watching  the  motion 
his  euemy.     lie  accordingly  despatched  a  scout  to  the  house  to  whi  1 
the  Yankee  had  been  directed,  to  make  sore  that  he  had  gone  on. 

At  a  late  hour  the  man  returned,  and  mused  Douglas  to  inform  him 
t|iat  the « spy  had  indeed  gone  as  far  as  he  had  intended,  and  that  he 
had  there  fallen  in  with  a  party  of  a  dozen  dragoons,  commanded  by  a 
subaltern,  who  were  on  a  scout  through  the  country.  With  this  officer 
lie  had  been  seen  to  be  engaged  in  private  and  earnest  conversation, 
and  orders  had  been  issued  to  the  men  to  look  well  to  the  condition  ol 
their  arms,  and  to  be  in  readiness  to  move  at  daylight. 

It  at  once  occurred  to  Douglas  that  a  new  scheme  had  entered  tin' 
head  of  the  vain  and  frivolous  being  who  had  thrust  himself  into  an 
affair  requiring  ojialities  so  different,     It  was  probable  that  h 
to  avail  himself  of  the  presence  of  this  little  party  to  endeavor  to  sur- 
prise his  enemy,  whom  he  had  reason  to  believe  to  be  still  near 

•1.      The    folly  of  risking  the  defeat  of  his  favorite   enterprise  by 
joining  in  the  attempt,  and  thas  throwing  off  his  mask,  bely 

to  occur  to  him.     The  question  with   Douglas  was,  whether  by  abiding 
the  attack  he  should  afford  the  bungling  fa  1.  whom  he  had  ! 
ing  into  his  own  trap,  a  chance  to  escape  from  it  by  his  own  blunder.      In 
.  lie  diil    i  i(  worthy  due  Owd 

his  discretion.     He  had  indoi  I             as  hb  proper  ] 
and  though  he  had  1"  en  unable  to  restrain  his  disposition  to  babbl 

aorely  repented  his  indiscretion  when  he  round   the  other  officer  dn> 

poqpd  to  anticipate  him.     II  arncstly  dissuaded 

anything  ;  ng  in    this,  bad   d<  I 
on  •  lone,  and   1 
might 


172  TlIK    PABTISAS    LEADER. 

Hut    ih  >Ugb    uncertain  what   might  be  the   conduct  of  the  spy,  I>ou- 

old  not  resist  bis  inclination  to  throw  himself  in  the  way  of  the 
expected  attack.  It  was  necessary  that  he  should  examine  the  ground 
carefully,  and  he  had  not  time  to  wait  until  the  Bcoutiag  party  Bhould 
Ft  the  neighborhood  Besides,  he  was  anxious  to  inform  him- 
self precisely  of  the  force  and  position  of  the  enemy,  and  the  name  of 
their  new  commander.     For  tliis  purpose  he  i  to  make  at  lead 

one  prisoner.  And,  after  all,  perhaps  not  the  least  moving  considera- 
tion m  ire  to  taste  once  more  the  stormy  joy  of  battle. 

(Jpon  the  whole,  he  determined  to  turn  the  tables  on  his  enemy, 
if  possible  j  and,  instead  of  returning  to  .bed,  prepared  immediate!] 
for  action.  All  things  were  soon  ready  The  master  of  the  house,  his 
two  sons,  and  three  of  the  neighbors,  who,  hearing  that  he  was  there, 
had  called  to  Bee  him,  added  to  his  own  party,  made  a  force  often  nun, 
with  which  he  was  not  afraid  to  abide  the  attack  of  thirteen.  At 
the  hi  ad  of  these  he  took  the  road,  and  by  daylight  had  occupied  the 
ground  where  he  wished  to  meet  the  enemy. 

At   the    point  of  which  we   speak,  the    mad,  after    passing   fur  aomo 

miles  over  a  broad  and  level  ridge,  at  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of^a 
uiilc  from   the  river,  dives  suddenly  int  p  defile  between  two 

hills.  The  descent  is  rapid,  and  in  less  than  a  hundred  yards,  tin 
hills  pome  down  abruptly  on  either  hand,  leaving  between  them  barely 
space  enough  for  the  road,  which  is  quite  narrow.  They  are  steep. 
1,  with  projecting  rocks,  and  alto-ether  impracticable  to  cavalry; 
and  are  moreover  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  and  brush- 
wood. At  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  plain 
above,  the  road  turns  Bbarp  to  the  right.  It  then* pursues  a  course 
nearly  direct,  for  a  like  distance  ;  and  (lien,  tinning  short  to  the  left, 
the  river,  ford,  and  the  oppOSlti    lauding,  aie  at  on 06  in  full  view. 

A  point  a  little  below  the  fust  mentioned  bend  W8C  selected  by  Dou- 
glas for  his  position.  lie  posted  Witt  and  three  others  on  one  side  of 
the  road,  behind  rocks  and  trees,  while  he,  Arthur,  and  one  more,  dis- 
themsclves,in  like  manner, on  the  other.  3chwartz,with  the  rest, 
I  through  the  defile,  with  Orders  to  hide  themselves  near  the 
bank,  and  let  the  enemy  pass  without  interruption.  A  pole  had  been 
thrown  across  the  road,  some  twenty  yards  in  front  of  Douglas  and  his^ 
party.  The  crossing  of  this,  by  the  enemy,  was  to  be  the  signal  for 
firing.  The  officer  was  designated  to  be  the  mark  of  Witt.  The  right 
and  lefl  hand  man  of  the  leading  hie  had  each  his  appropriate  execu- 
tioner appointed  ;  then  the  two  next,  and  then  two  more,  were  in  like 
uiauner  foredoomed,  so  that  no  shot  should  be  thrown  away.  While 
these  arrangements  were  making,  Arthur  bethought  him  of  Schwartz'* 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  173 

lecture  on  tactics,  and  was  at  once  sensible  of  the  vast  superiority  of 
untaught  courage  and  sagacity,  on  occasions  like  this,  over  the  sort  of 
discipline  on  which  the  martinet  is  so  apt  to  pride  himself. 

About  sunrise  the  enemy  appeared,  consisting,  as  the  scout  had  said, 
of  a  doj^n  men,  undcrthc  command  of  a  single  officer.  To  the  great 
relief  of  Douglas,  the  redoubtable  Yankee  Captain  was  not  with  them. 
As  the  hill  was  steep,  they  advanced  in  a  walk,  while  the  officer,  who 
was  in  the  rear,  occasionally  turned  his  horse's  head  to  the  hill,  sccm- 
ing.to  examine  for  some  recess  in  which  his  party  might  draw  aside, 
and  form  a  sort  of  ambuscade ;  but  there  was  no  such  spot.  The 
ground  was  everywhere  too  steep  for  cavalry;  and,  disappointed,  be 
put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  pushed  forward  to  resume  his  place  at  the 
head  of  the  party.  They  were  now  near  the  fatal  point;  every  rifle 
was  in  rest,  and  duly  levelled  at  its  mark,  and  in  the  moment  that  the 
leading  file  were  crossing  the  pole,  six  saddles  were  empty,  and  six 
horses  ran  mastcrlcss.  The  aim  of  Witt  at  the  officer,  who  was  much 
more  distant,  and  moving  rapidly,  was  less  fatal.  I>ul  his  ball  took  ef- 
fect, as  was  plainly  shown  by  the  sword  arm,  which,  at  the  moment, 
fell  powerless.  The  men  went  to  the  right  about  in  a  moment,  and  a 
shout,  which  the  echoes  of  the  steep  gorge  multiplied  into  a  hundred 
voices,  sent  them  down  the  hill  at  full  speed. 

The  officer,  though  wounded,  was   not  quite  so  ready  to  take   to  his 
heels,  and  eaHcd  to  his  men  to  halt.     Willi  all  but  one,  he  succeeded; 
but  that  one,  wild  with  terror,  dashed  on.     In  the  meantime,  Schwartz 
and  his  little  party  bad  planted  themselves  in  the  road,  near  the  river, 
and  their  array  was  the  first  object  that  met  the  eye  of  the  affrighted 
soldier  as  he  turned  the  angle  of  the  mad.      But  panic  is  as  apt  to 
hurry  a  man  into  danger  as  away  from  it,  and  the  >  i  ^  1 1 1  of  this  mu 
enemy  only  urged  the  poor  wretch  to  a  more  desperate  efforl  toes 
by  breaking  by  them.     In  vain  did  the  men  throw  up  their  arms,  and 
call  to  him  to  stop.      He  rushed  on,  right  upon  Schwartz,  who  stood  in 
the  middle  of  the  road,  and  who,  as  a  dernier  rcsortf  Btqpped  hU 
■with  a  bullet     Tli.'  report  of  his  rifle,  and  a  glimpse  <>('  Douglas's 
advancing  along  the  Bide  <>f  the  bill  t<>  get  within  s-h  >t.  decided  t!<"  of- 
ficer thai  it  was  time  to  look  to  hi*  safety.     Tumi  agio  of  tin' 
read,  lie  saw  the  fate  of  his  fallen  soldier,  and  th<  it.     Imme- 
diately .calling  on  hia  men  to  follow,  he  ''.--I'd  on  with  an  imp'  I 
which  Bnowcd  a  determination  to  force  a  pass                rish. 

Tl     result  was  in< ■■  Schwarti  was  in  the  act  of  load  i 

rile      The  other  three  levelled  th< sirs.     They  had  not  1"    n  trained  in 
Schwartz's  school  of  tactics,  and  all   three,  attra<  I 
and  plume  and  Bash  of   the  officer,  fired  at  him.      He  fell  d<  ad,  and  the 


174  THE    PARTISAN    LEA] 

rceiring  their  .■■.  rushed  <>n  the  mount 

and  let  them  pass.     One  of  them 
nimble  but  tliat,ns  ho  clambered  np  the  rocky  face  of  the  hill, a  sweet) 
tag  back-handed  inflicted* a  deep  gash  in  tho  back  part  of  his 

thigh.  This  was  the  only  injury  received  by  the  party  of  Douglas  in 
the  affair,  and  dearly  did  it  cost  the  man  who  gave  it.  Schwarta 
marked  him,  and  coolly  wcntTon  loading  his  rifle.  By  tlio  time  he  hui 
effected  this,  the  soldier  was  half  way  across  the  river,  and  tl,. 
moment  tumbled  from  his  horse,  and  went  floating  down  the  Btreaaa. 
The  other  five  gained  the  Bhore  before  another  rifle  could  be  leaded 
and,  doubling  a  which  the  road  turned,  disappi 


TIIE    PARTISAN    LEADSR. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

This  victory,  though  on  a  small  scale,  was  complete  in  itself     It 
was  a  favorable  omen,   too,  and  might  serve  as  a  sort  of  rehearsal  of 
the  more  important  battle   to  be   fought  on  the  same  ground.     In  one 
thing   only    Douglas    had    been    disappointed,   by    the    eagerness  of" 
Schwartz's  men.     He  had  made  no   prisoners,  and   the  fallen  enemy 
were  all  either  dead,  or  no*  in   condition  to  be  harassed  by  such  qi 
tions  as  he  wished  to  ask.     They  were  necessarily  committed  to  tin 
care  of  such   of  the   party  as  lived   in    the  neighborhood;  and  thi 
horses  and  arms  being  secured,  were  placed  in  the  same  hands  for  safe 
keeping. 

The  feelings  of  Arthur,  as  he  looked  on  this  fearful  scene  of  slaugh- 
ter, were  such  as  might  be  expected  to  possess  the  mind  of  a  youth, 
who,  as  yet,  had  never  seen  the  blood  of  man  shed  in  strife.  But 
these  arc  nothing  to  the  purpose  of  my  tale.  It  is  enough  to  say,  tha- 
the  contemplation  of  it  wrought  the  usual  change  in  his  character.  II»- 
now  felt  that  to  kill  or  be  killed  was  the  order  of.  the  day;  and,  thou 
his  next  sleep  was  haunted  by  visions  of  the  ghastly  objects  that  lay 
before  him,  he  awoke  from  it  with  a  mind  prepared  for  the  stern  dutic  • 
of  war. 

Requesting  the  company  ar>d  advice  of  his  nost,  Douglas  now  pf 
cecded  to  examine  the  ground.    He  found  the  river  hills  every  when 
tcrsected,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  by  ravines  such  as  that  I  han 
scribed.   The  ford  was  shallow,  but  just  above  was  dec]'  water,  which,  on 
the  north  side,  came  down  quite  near  to  the  gravel  bar,  which  served  M 
dam.     Here  a  steep  and  high  rock  bounded  the  river,  and  along  thi 
base  of  it.  the  water  eddied  in  a  deep  pool,  and  then  swept  away  in  a 
strong,  but  Bhallow  current.     At  a  Bhort  di  the  moutl 

of  a  ravine,  i  v<  rgrown  with  lofty  I 

l  distance  of  fifty  yards  from  the  landing-place.     The  read,  issuing 
from  the  river  at  the  fool  of  the  rock,  holds  a  straigl 
ty  yards,  or  thereabouts,  and  then  turning  short    to  *' 
'in  sight  of  the  river.     From   thence,  a  short,  bat  si 
a  deep  cleft  in  the  hills,  brings  the  traveller  to  the  top,  wl 


THE    PARTTSAB    I.KAKER. 

the  right,  and  resumes   the  direction  t  nchburg. 

r  .-i  thon  mination  of  the  whole,  the   ;  irned  to 

breakfast  at  the  boose  of  Mr.  Gordon. 

lunulas  rode  slowly  and  thoughtfully.     At  length  he  said  apart  to 

Sohwa 

••  Four  plot  is  admirable  ;  but  I  am  afraid  it  will  fail." 
••  Wli.it  chance  of  thai  '.'"  asked  Schwartz.     "They  will  be  ashamed 
to  briiiLr  more  than  a  thousand  men  against  yon,  even  if  they  had 

them.      Wc   can    rai-o    BS    many    a^    they   can.   and   wo   shall  be  on  the 

eround,  and  have  the  Bame  advantage  we  had  ju>t  now." 

"Hut  suppose  they  come  and  take  possession  Bret,"  said  Douglas. 

"Oh!  in>  danger  of  that.  They'll  be  in  no  hurry  to  leave  their 
sting  quarters  any  sooner  than  they  can  help 3  and  we  can  be  here  a 
day  or  two  before  the  time."  » 

"  It  may  be  BO,"  said  Douglas,  ''but  I  don't  think  Col.  Mason  takes 
me  for  an  absolute  fool;  and  if  he  does,  he  has  reason  to  know  that  1 
have  sharp-witted  men  about  me.  ]>ut  nny  man's  wits  may  fail  him 
sometimes.     For  example,  it  has  never  occurred  to  eitl  ,  that 

Mason  will  certainly  not  believe  that  we  have  been  fooled  by  such  a 
fellow  as  this  Yankee  of  yours.  Will  he  not,  therefore,  at  onoe 
•no  truth,  and  conclude  that  we  arc  crying  to  catch  him  In  his 
awn  tr-'.p  r" 

••  I  God!"  said  Schwartz,  "that  is  true.  1  had  not  thought  of  that. 
The  fellow  is  tcn>  silly  to  be  made  bait  of,  sure  enough.  But  then,  you 
see,  Captain,  we  can  fix  them  any  how.  Mr.  Gordon  here  can  raise 
•nc  n  enough,  in  th  to  keep  the  n  from  ,  '..  riv<  r,  until 

we  arc  ready  for  them,  and  'hen,  you  know,  we  can  push  across  a  part 
of  our  men,  and  toll  them  over,  [f  once  we  get  them  into  a  right 
sharp  fight,  they'll  follow  us  aoross  the  river  fast  enough." 

"I  have  no    doubt    of    their    coming    to   look    for  US,"  said  DoDglaS, 

"  and  no  d,oub<  of  0  fight  ;  but  we  must  be  pn  pared  to  mc<  t  more  men 
#tban  we  have  bargained  for.     Depend  upon  it,  they  will  bring  every 

man  they  can  raise.      Why,   Would    you   bellOVe    it,  the  fellow  talked  t.> 

me  about  living  at  home  on  codfish,  and  potatoes,  and  cider,  and  pies, 
and  nil  am  is  of  satsf  Such  a  simpleton  could  not  impose  on  a  child. 
Col.  Mason  has  talents  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  and  he  will  sec  through 
the  whole  affair.  I  suppose  he  is  superseded  ;  but  he  is  an  honorable 
man,  and  will  frankly  give  the  benefit  of  his  suspicions  to  his  superior, 
who  can  hardly  be  such  a  fool  as  to  disregard  hi  ons.     We 

must  bestir  ourselves,  tl  jive  up  the  game  and  escape  from 

our  own  plot 


r" 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  177 


"  Gentlemen,''  continued  Douglas,  speaking  aloud,  and  in  a  sustained 
and  decisive  tone,  "  this  is  our  place  of  rendezvous;  the  time  mid-day 
on  the  third  of  November.  Every  man  must  come  prepared  for  action, 
and  such  as  mean  to  accompany  me  to  the  lower  country,  must  bring 
with  them  all  their  necessaries.  Mr.  Gordon,  I  must  depend  oil  yott^ 
to  hold  this  pass,  and  keep  the  enemy  from  crossing  the  river.  1  shall 
send  n  force  to  support  you,  if  necessary.  You,  Schwartz,  know  what 
to  do  better  than  I  can  tell  you.  You*  Witt,  will  return  with  me,  and 
we  will  talk,  as  we  ride,  of  what  is  to  be  done.  Mr.  Gordon,  tee  could 
travel  without  food,  but  our  horses  cannot.  We  must  trouble  you  for 
something  for  all,  and  then  wc  part  until  the  day  of  rendezvous.  Until 
that  time,  '  Vigilance  and  Activity'  is  the  word — but  then  '  Freedom, 
Independence,  and  Glory.'"- 

As  Douglas  said  this  they  arrived  at  Mr.  Gordon's  door.  The  ready 
meal  was  hastily  swallowed,  the  horses  fed,  and  they  departed  for  the 
camp.  On  the  way  Schwartz,  turning  to  the  left,  kept  a  southward 
course  through  the  district,  along  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  to  rouse 
the  inhabitants  in  that  quarter,  and  to  collect  a  party  to  support  Mr. 
Gordon.  The  rest  returned  to  the  camp,  from  whence  runners  were 
despatched  throughout  all  the  adjacent  country,  and  even  beyond  the 
mountain  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Holston.  Leaving  them  thus  cm- 
ployed,  let  us  repair  to  the  head-quarters  of  the  enemy. 

,  In  the  handsome  parlor  of  a  handsome  house,  in  the  suburbs  tfi 
Lynchburg,  wc  find  two  officers  seated  at  a  game  of  piquet.  The  hour 
is  nine  at  night.  The  room  is  richly  furnished.  A  bright  fire  burns 
on  the  hearth,  and  the  blaze  of  sconce  and  astral  lamps  sheds  its 
soft,  luxurious,  moonlight  beams  into  every  corner.  Wincf  cordials, 
fruits, and  cigars  arc  placed  on  a  table,  and  every  thing  betokens  com- 
fort and  luxury,  case  and  indolence.  The  dress  of  thes*  cor- 
responds with  the  scene.  Both  glitter  with  gold  and  flutd  r  in  lace, 
and  their  richly  mounted  swords  and  highly  finished  pistols,  whieb  lie 
on  the  table,  show  that  (he  owners  abound  in  the  means  of  display  and 
Bclf-indulgcncc. 

Buch  was  indeed  the  fact.  The  pay  of  the  army,  gradually  in- 
creased by  law  during  thirt*  had  grown  I  inc.  The 
emoluments,  as  they  are  called,  under  as;  ind  and  connivi 
had  advtnccd  (vcillwut  law)  yet  more  rapidly;  so  that  to  be  a  Colt 
in  the  army  of  the  United  States  was  to  be  ■  rich  man.  Such  was 
the  rank  of  both  these  officers.  It  was  true  'hat  the  treasury  had 
already  begun  to  feci  the  drain  of  th<  under  an 
iniq                                           nploycd   to  fortify  the  tyranny  that  l.j<i 

12 


178  THE    PAXT2SA1T   LEAI>1R 

that  the  supply  now  on  hand,  if  once  exhausted,  would 
not  be  speedily  renewed.  But  the  rulers  felt  bat  the  more  sensibly 
•hat  the  energetic  employment  both  of  force  and  corruption  wai  nc 
tary  to  retain  the  little  that  remained,  by  holding  Virginia  in  subjec- 
tion. With  Hii  view,  the  same  system  of  wasteful  expenditure,  com- 
menced twenty  years  l»efore,  was  kept  up:  and  all  who  served  the 
erown  with  becoming  zeal  were  encouraged  to  bold  open  their  mouths 
that  they  night  be  filled. 

In  another  part  of  the  room  a  company  cf  subalterns  fluttered  around 
a  bevy  of  fair  damsels.  To  these  young  ladies  the  mistress  of  this 
mansion  had  of  late  become  an  object  of  much  increased  regard.  Nft 
friend  was  so  dear,  no  society  so  desirable,  nor  house  so  pleasant  to 
tjsit  at  as  hers.  Many  an  extra  visit  did  she  receive,  since  the  abound- 
ing loyalty  of  her  husband  had  invited  the  commandant  of  the  post  to 
make  it  his  head-quarters.  Many  a  wistful  glance  had  been  east  during 
the  evening,  from  the  assiduous  subalterns,  toward  the  In  ndsome  and 
unheeding  wearer  of  two  epaulettes,  to  whose  authority  all  who  ap- 
proached him  were  bound  to  bow.  Hut  it  wus  ali  in  vain.  Sufficient 
to  himself,  he  valued  not  the  admiring  eyes  which  were  Deal  upon 
him  ;  or  if  they  occupied  any  thing  of  hii  attention,  it  was  to  be  made 
the  subject  of  invidious  comparison  with  the  ladies  of  the  highest 
fashion  hi  the  northern  eifcies,  whose  lavish  attentions  had  rendered 
him  totally  heedless  of  the  vulgar  admiration  of  a  parcel  of  half  bred 
Virginia  girls. 

These  remarks,  however,  apply  to  only  one  of  the  officer.'-  in  qtfes- 
tion.  The  other  manifested  bo  such  insensibility,  though  his  attentions 
to  the  fair  were  only  marked  by  ■  staid  courtesy,  hardly  more  flattering 
than  the  perfect  indifference  af  bia  companion.  Still  he  paid  such 
attention  as  it  becomes  a  gentleman  to  pay  to  every  thing  that  wears 
the  exterior  of  a  lady.  But  the  day  when  he  was  himself  an  object 
of  court  to  them  was  past,  [ndecd,  the  ladies  bad  already  begun  to 
despair  of  thawing  the  coldness  of  his  temperament,  when,  being  su- 
perseded by  a  younger  and  handsomer  commander,  he  was  laid  on  the 
shelf  and  condemned  as  quite  paste. 

Hut  it  is  high  time  to  make  the  reader  acquainted  with  the  two  mili- 
tary gentlemen,  to  whose  presence  he  has  been  introduced. 

The  reader,  without  doubt,  already  understands  that,  of  the  two  pffi- 
cers  before  us  the  elder  in  years,  though  theyouuger  in  commission,  is 
Col.  Mason,  late  commandant  of  the  post.  His  companion  is  Col. 
Owen  Trevor,  whose  impatience  for  distinction  has  been  indulged  by 
sending  him  to  Lynchburg  with  his  regiment.  Here,  taking  rank  of 
Mason,  he  has  been   in    fact  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade,  with  an 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  179 

understanding  that  time  and  opportunity  will  be  afforded  him  to  show 
himself  qualified  for  the  rank,  by  discharging  the  functions  of  a  briga- 
dier. This  post  has  been  assigned  him  because  in  this  direction  is  the 
only  enemy  actually  in  arms. 

Although  the  force  under  the  command  of  Douglas  bad  been  origi- 
nally but  a  handful,  Mason  had  seen  that  it  possessed,  in  a  marvellous 
degree,  the  faculty  of  occasional  expansion.  His  intelligence  had 
taught  him  to  expect  that  it  would  ere  long  be  greatly  increased,  if  not 
crushed  by  a  vigorous  movement  on  his  part.  Hence  he  was  desirous 
of  acting  on  the  otfensive,  especially  as  he  had  no  doubt,  from  the 
past,  that  Lynchburg  was  the  object  of  Douglas.  Dut  he  had  seen 
enough  of  the  character  and  resources  of  his  enemy  to  know  that  a 
small  force  would  be  unavailing,  and  had  therelbre  earnestly  desired  to 
be  reinforced.  In  answer  to  this  request  he  had  received,  not  the 
moderate  aid  that  he  had  desired,  but  an  order  to  surrender  his  com- 
mand to  Col.  Trevor,  whose  well-appointed  regiment  was  ordered  to  the 
post. 

Col.  Mason  was  a  man  of  honor  and  talent.  He  was  one.  of  the 
many  subjects  of  that  strong  delusion  which  had  so  extensively  pre- 
vailed ;  and,  under  the  influence  of  which,  Virginia,  for  thirty  years, 
had  been  sacrificing  the  substance  of  liberty  and  prosperity  to  the 
forms  of  a  constitution  devised  to  secure,  but  perverted  to  destroy 
them.  He  belonged,  moreover,  to  that  unfortunate  class  of  partisans 
whom  it  is  safe  to  neglect.  Acting  on  principles,  however  erroneous, 
it  was  clearly  seen  that  these  alone  were  sufficient  to  bind  him  to  the 
service  to  which  .he  had  devoted  himself.  It  was  at  the  same  time 
little  doubted  that  a  change  of  opinions  would  be  followed  by  a  renun- 
ciation of  all  the  advantages  of  his  situation,  whatever  they  might  be. 
To  waste  on  such  a  man  the  means  of  corrupting  the  Corruptible,  and 
securing  the  faithless,  would  indeed  have  been  "  ridiculous  exc 
He  liad  won  his  way  to  his  present  rank  by  the  strict  performance  of 
every  duty  of  the   subordinate   offices,   through   which  he  had  risen  by 

jular  gradation.     In  the  shuffling  and  catting  of  the  military  pack, 
he  had  seen  junior   officers,  placed    above    nini  by  that  sort  of  legerde- 
main which  had  bo  long  before  procured  his  master  the  name  of  the 
magician,     lie  had   not  indeed  acquiesced   tamely  in  this,  hut  means 
had  been  always  found  so  soothe  him,  and  he  had  been  retained  in  the 
service  by  dextrous  appeals  to  that  magnanimity  which  they  who  knew 
not  bow  to  appr<  ciate,  yet  knew  well  how  to  play  upon. 
he  had    not   gel    forgotten   how,  ten  years  befoi 
had  been  found   for  reversing    the   relative   rank   • 
•  Trevor,  whin  both  v  ere  vcrj  young  and   both  n  that 


TIIK    PARTISAN    T.KADBK. 

:nc  complimentary  though  temporary  arrangement 

had  been  devised  to  reconcile  him  to  that  which  gave  the  rank  of 
in  to  one,  whom  he.  still  a  Lieutenant,  had  once  commanded. 
Having  repressed  his  di-^atisfuctioq  at  that  time,  he  rjow  felt  hound  to 
acquiesce  in  |he  circumstanccfl  which  placed  his  former  subordinate 
immediately  in  authority  over  him.  If  thi<  occurrence  made  him 
repent  his  former' tameness,  now  when  it  was  .too  late  to  remonstrate, 
he  did  not  say  so,  but  addressed  himself  wfra'  grave  precision  to  the 
fulfilment  of  all  his  commander's  orders. 


# 


THE    PARTISAN    LBADBR.  181 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

Fortuna  riimium  quern  fovet,  sttiltutn  tacit. 

Colonel  Trevor  was  the  spoiled  child  of  fortune  and  patronage. 
He  was  old  enough  to  remember  his  father's  rise  in  life.  Hence,  in 
estimating  his  consequence  in  society,  he  had  formed  a  habit  of  com- 
paring him  with  the  class  from  which  he  sprang,  and  not  with  that 
more  intellectual  order  of  men,  in  which  he  bad  at  last  found  hk 
proper  place,  and  where  he  had  long  remained  stationary  in  well  ascer- 
tained equality.  This  circumstance  alone  made  an  important  difference 
between  him  and  his  younger  brothers.  The  sort  of  retrospect  with 
which  he  was  most  familiar  teaches  any  thing  but  humility,  however  it 
may  imprest  that  lesson  on  the  mind  that  has  already  learned  it. 

In  the  commencement  of  Col.  Trevor's  military  career,  the  approba- 
tion of  his  father  had  been  of  more  consequence  to  the  usurper  than 
now,  when  his  throne  stood  strong  on  its  foundations.  The  character 
of  that  worthy  gentleman,  too,  had  been  less  understood.  The  Presi- 
dent had  not  been  aware  how  absolutely  the  convictions  of  his  own 
mind  and  high  sense  of  duty  supplied  the  place  of  those  douceurs,  the 
frequent  repetition  and  continued  expectation  of  which  is  necessary  to 
bind  the  faith  of  the  unprincipled.  Before  this  discover}-  was  made. 
Col.  Trevor  had  been  already  advanced  to  a  rank,  and  invested  with  an 
.adventitious  consequence,  which  made  it  important  to  cultivate  him  on 
his  own  account.  II is  early  training  had  taught  him  the  grand  maxim 
of  the  court — u  Nothing  ask,  nothing  have."  lie  had  discovered  that 
any  display  of  fixed  principle,  however  favorable  to  the  usurper's  plans, 
•  passport  to  advancement;  that  rewards  were  only  for  the  mer- 
cenary, and  that  they  were  always  dispi  di  sd  with  a  freedom  duly  pro- 
portioned to  the  eagerness  with  which  they  were  sought.  The  caustic 
wit  of  John  Randolph  had  unintentionally  and  almost  with  fa 
breath  supplied  the  faction  with  a  countersign  not  to  be  mistaken.  If 
any  man  talked  about  his  principles,  (as  all  men  d<>  and  must  at  times,) 
there  was  always  at  hand  some  dextrous  pimp,  whoM  I 
ascertain  their  number.  If  they  were  found  tc*be  either  more  or  less 
yen,  th<   discovery  was  fatal  to  hi  I   advancement. 

The  character  of  Douglas  Trevor  had  been  formed  under  circum- 
stances directly  the  reverse  of  those  which   had   operated  "n  his  elder 


- 


]v'2  THE    PARTISAN    LBABIB. 

lie  "iily  remembered  his  father  in  the  Bame  cirol<  -  and  tlie 
lace  in  society  in  which  his  latter  days  bad  b  L    No 

change  of  condition  hod  1  id  the  youth  to  turn  his  hack  on  the  companions 
of  his  boyhood  ;  no  rapid  promotion  had  filled  him  with  a  fond  i 

<  f  hi-  own   osnsequencc,  or  an   o?erweening  eagerness  for  rank  and 
emolument;  and  his  unbought  fidelity  had  shown  thai  of  the 

number  of  those  on  whom  rewards  would  be  wasted.   Thus  it  hap] 

jo  often  does,)  that  two  young  men,  sons  of  the  same  parents, 
educated  in  the  same  school,  and  trained  to  the  same  profession,  were 
ju>t  the  reverse  of  each  other,  in  particulars  wherein  nature  had  prob- 
ably made  little  difference  between  them.  Bo  it  was,  that  while  the 
one  was  indifferent  to  duty,  frivolous,  self-indulgent,  and  mercenary, 
the  other  was  assiduous,  discreet,  temperate,  and  disinterested. 

It  may  be  inferred  from  what  I  have  said,  that  the  rank  of  Col. 
Trevor  was  already  above  his  merit.  The  consequence  was,  that  hav- 
ing reached  his  present  elevation  by  the  force  of  causes  not  within  him- 
self, his  own  consciousness  afforded  no  standard  for  his  farther  preten- 
sions. He  could  see  no  reason  why  he  should  not  he  a  field-marshal 
as  well  as  a  colonel.  And  so  it  was  ;  for  he  had  no  just  claims  to  cither 
rank  on  the  score  of  service  or  qualification.  A  stone  thrown  up,  were 
it  endued  with  consciousness  and  thought,  could  see  no  reason,  as  long 
as  it  was  ascending,  why  it  might  not  fly  to  the  moon!  If  my  experi- 
ence in  life  ha--  taught  me  any  thing,  it  is,  that  a  man  who  sets  no 
bounds  to  his  aspirations,  unless  his  daily  intercourse  with  the  world 
affords  daily  proofs  of  an  intrinsic  superiority  over  all  he  meets,  is  al- 
ready raised  above  his  merit, 

The  gentlemen,  of  whom  I  have  been  Bpeaking,  were  busily  engaged 
in  their  game,  when  the  Orderly  in  waiting  entered  and  announced  an 
officer  who  wished  to  report  himself  to  the  commandant  of  the  post 

"  Let  him  call  in  the  morning,  and  be  damned  to  him,"  said  Colonel 
Trevor.     "  Is  this  an  how  to  disturb  a  gentleman?'' 

The  Orderly  saluted  and  withdrew,  hut  presently  returned  to  say  that 
the  officer  had  particular  husiness  with  Colonel  Mason,  and  wished  to 
see  him  immediately.  Mason  accordingly  left  the  room,  and  was  gone 
but  a  few  minutes,  when  he  too  came  back. 

;'  This  officer,  sir,"  said  he,  "asked  to  see  me,  supposing  me  still  in 
command  here.  His  intelligence  is  for  you ;  and,  from  what  I  heard 
before  I  discovered  his  mistake,  it  may  be  important  that  you  should 
receive  it  to-night." 

"  "Well,"  said  Trevor,  in  a  tone  at  once  lazy  and  peevish,  "  T  suppose 
I  must  see  him.  But  it  is  damned  hard  that  I  cannot  have  a  moment's 
leisure.     Let  him  come  in." 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  I8S 

He  was  summoned  accordingly,  and  proved  to  be  no  other  than  our 
acquaintance,  the  Yankee  spy,  whom  I  now  introduce  to  the  reader,  as 
he  announced  himself.  He  is  Captain  Amos  Cottle,  of  the  20th  regi- 
ment of  infantry,  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  His  name,  I 
presume,  (like  that  of  the  fourteen  James  Thomsons,  in  Don  Juan,)  had 
been  bestowed  in  honor  ef  the  illustrious  bard  immortalized  by  Lord 
Byron.  He  was  invited  to  take  a  glass  of  wine,  and,  having  seated 
himself,  requested  a  private  conference  with  the  commanding  officer. 
This  was  a  signal  for  the  dispersion  of  the  ladies,  and  their  assiduous 
attendants,  who  adjourned  to  another  room.  Mason  was  about  to  fol- 
low, but  the  Cokniel  carelessly  requested  him  to  remain. 

Captain  Cottle  was  then  invited  to  open  Ins  budget,  which  he  did  by 
telling  what  the  reader  already  knows.  Not  a  sentence  did  he  utter., 
in  which  some  indication  of  folly,  vanity,  or  .indiscretion  did  not  escape 
him.  All  this,  however,  passed  unmarked  of  Col.  Trevor,  whose  eyes, 
sparkled  at  the  welcome  intelligence.  Nothing  could  be  more  apropos 
to  his  wishes,  or  to  the  plan  of  the  President.  "VeRi,  vidi,  viei." 
The  exploit  of  Crcsar  was  the  only  parallel  to  that  which  he  proposed 
to  achieve,  ticcasionalhy  he  looked  to  Mason  for  sympathy  and  con- 
currence with  his  unexpressed  thoughts.  As  often  he  withdrew  his 
eye,  chilled  and  perplexed  by  the  cold,  steady,  thoughtful  look  ef  his 
companion.  What  could  this  mean  ?  Could  Mason  be  insensible  to 
the  advantage  of  the  plot,  or  indifferent  to  its  issue  '(  Could  envy  so 
far  prevail  with  a  man  heretofore  distinguished  by  his  disinterested 
xeal  for  the  service,  as  to  damp  his  ardor  in  an  enterprise  of  so  much 
promise  ?  He  was  at  first  indignant  at  this  idea,  but  a  little  reflection 
made  him  judge  his  brother-officer  with  more  candor. 

"Poor  Mason,"  said  he  to  himself.  "  I  don't  wonder  that  ho  is  a 
little  mortified  at  my  good  fortune.  It  is  something  hard  that  he  should 
have  held  this  post  so  long,  without  a  chance  to  do  any  thing,  and  that 
I  should  have  come  just  in  time  to  rob  him  Gf  this.  But  then,  damn 
it  J  it  is  his  own  fault.  What  did  he  want  with  a  reinforcement  against 
a  parcel  of  ragged  militia  ?  It  was  right  to  supersede  an  officer  who 
would  ask  more  than  one  regiment  to  meet  any  number  of  such  raga- 
muffins that  could  come  against  him.  Besides,  he  ought  to  have  bro 
ken  up  their  den  long  ago.  If  Dooglafl  escapee  me  this  'iim,  it  shall 
not  be  lonjr  before  I  smoke  him  out  of  his  hole,  or  there  is  no  virtue  in 
gun -powder." 

Having  thus  reasoned  himself  into  a  state  of  erquisil  mpla- 

ceney,  he  heard  the  story  of  Captain  Cottle  to  the  end,  and  then  asked 
the  opinion  of  Mason. 


18*  THE  [8AM    LEAI' 

•  [  ."  replied  that  gentleman,  "  that  1  am  prepared  I 

an  opinion/' 

"  1  hope,"  -aid  Trevor,  "  that  you  don't  mean  to  deny  me  the  benefit 
ur  thoughts  " 

-     far  from  it,  that  T    mnlco   it   a  point  of  conscience  not  to 
without  having  first  thought.      When    I    have   done  so,  I  will  tell  you 
what  1  think.     To  speak  now  would  be  hut  to  give  you  the  crude  sug- 
ns  of  unreflecting  and  impertinent  presumption." 
"  T  cannot  understand,"  said  Trevor,  "  how  you  can  require  time  to 
think  in  so  plain  a  case." 

"  1  might  say.  in  reply,"  answered  Mason,  "  that  as  the  ease  is  so 
clear  to  you,  you  can  hardly  need  my  advice.  Indeed,  I  understand 
your  request  <>f  it  hut  as  a  compliment  to  which  I  am  not  insensible, 
and  which  T  shall  not  decline.  When  1  am  prepared  to  speak,  there- 
fore. ]  '  k  as  plainly  as  if  the  ease  were  as  full  of  difficulty  to 
you  as  i'  i.^  to  me." 

ing  said  this.  Mason  drew  Cottle  into  conversation  ;  enquired  the 
particulars  of  his  visit  to  the  mountain  :  encouraged  him  t<>  recite  his 
Conversations  with  Douglas;  and,  filling  him  full  of  vanity  and  conceit 
by  hifl  deferential  deportment,  made  the  light  shine  through  him,  so  as 

to  expose  hi-  folly  to  the  mosl  careless  observer.  At  length  !i"  was 
dismissed  for  the  night,  and  Mason,  addressing  Trevor,  said :  "I  am 
now  ready  to  give1  yon  toy  thoughts.     1  could  in  Captain  Cot- 

lie's  presence;  and,  indeed,  my  mind  wis  not  clear  until  I  had  some 
more  conversation  with  him.      1  am  now  sat; 

"Let's  hear,  then,  the  result  of  your  cogitations,"  asked  Trevor,  with 
something  of  a  sneer. 

Mason  colored  Blightly,but  said,  in  a  calm  tone  :  "I  have  had  some 
experience  of  this  Captain  Douglas,  and  am  morally  sure  he  has  not  been 
deceived  by  tliis  man,  as  he  supposes." 

'•  What  1"  exclaimed  Trevor.  "  Do  you  forget  that  Captain  Cottle  is. 
an  officer  whose  rank  is  a  pledge  for  his  honor,  and  who  would  forfeit 
Ms  commission  and  his  life  by  bringing  false  intelligence  to  his  com- 
mander?" 

■•  !  don't  doubt  his  truth,"  said  Mason,  "hut  his  sagacity  I  do  doubt 
The  man  is  palpably  a  Yankee — " 

"  And  the  cunning  of  the  Yankee  is  proverbial,"  interrupted  Trevoir 

u  It  is,  indeed,"  replied  Mason  j  "but  as  he  is  not  only  a  Yankee, 
but  obviously  BO,  he  could  nOt  have  made  Douglas  believe  that  he  wat 
an  influential  inhabitant  of  Bedford,  a  native  -of  the  county,  and  a 
sealous  stickler  for  the  sovereignty  of  Virginia." 

''  You  give  your  Captain  Douglas  credit  for  a  great  deal  of  sagacity  " 


9 
THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  185 

**  And  not  without  reason,"  said  Mason.  "  His  plans,  and  his  man- 
ner* of  conducting  them,  all  show  it.  His  intelligence  appears  to  be 
always  correct  and  ready,  and  his  devices  for  the  concealment  of  his 
own  schemes  arc  commonly  impenetrable.  It  is  clear,  from  many  cir- 
cumstances, that  he  has  agents  who  pass  throtigh  the  country  unsus- 
pected ;  and  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  Cottle  had  fallen  in  with  one 
of  them.  I  have  no  doubt  that  Douglas  will  be  found  at  Jo.ies's  Ford 
on  the  day  appointed  ;  but  my  life  upon  it,  instead  of  coming  there  to 
be  surprised,  he  proposes  to  come  there  to  surprise  you." 

"  Surprise  me  !"  said  Trevor,  scornfully. 

"  ~b  have  no  apprehension  that  he  will  surprise  you,"  said  Mason, 
"  because  I  am  sure  you  will  take  all  proper  precaution.  I  merely 
mean  to  say  that  he  will  attempt  it." 

"And  be  punished  for  his  presumption,"  said  Trevor.  "As  to  pre- 
caution, I  must  use  it,  to  be  sure,  supcrflous  as  it  may  be  against  a  set 
of  inexperienced  militia." 

"Of  one  sort  of  experience,"  said  Mason,  "and  that  not   the 
important,  they  have   bad   more   than   we.     They  have  tasted  danger 
more  than  once;  and  their  skill  in  the  use  of  the  rifle  is  such  as  meli 
who  live  with  the  weapon  in  their  bands,  and  they  alone,  can  be  expect- 
ed to  acquire." 

u  I  hope  to  bring  in  some  of  them  as  prisoners,"  said  Trevor,  "and 
then  we  shall  see  how  that  is.  I  will  pit  a  dozen  of  our  sharp-shooters 
against  .a  dozen  of  them,  my  horse  to  yours." 

"  T  am  not  in  the  habit  of  betting,"  replied  Mason,  smiling  quietly  ; 
"  but,  in  this  case,  I  dare  say  I  may  do  it  innocently,  as  the  offence  will 
hardly  reach  beyond  intention  ;  so  I  take  your  bet." 

"  How  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Trevor,  sharply. 

"  T  mean,"  said  Mason,  "  that  I  am  not  very  sure  that  you  will  take 
a  dozen  of  them."     . 

"Not  sure  !"  exclaimed  Trevor;  "how  can  they  escape  me  ?" 

"  I  don't  profess  to  understand  their  craft,"  .-aid  MaiOD  ;  "  but  they 
arc  hard  to  catch.  Tn  short,  Colonel  Trevor,  my  instructions  rcquiro 
me  to  afford  you  all  the  information  I  have  acquired  here.  Tt  is  there- 
fore my  duty,  even  without  question  from  you,  to  assure  you  that  you 
arc  in  the  midst  of  a  disaffected  country,  and  that  you  are  going  against 
an  enemy  not  to  be  despised,  and   auion 

Knowing  thesi    things,  and  invited  by  you  to  advise  whit  is  to  I 
in  this  affair,  my  advice  is  to  march  your  whole  disposable  force  to  the 
appointed  place,  using  i  v.  ry  ]  n  caution  t  •  guard  against  surpri 
might  be  as  well  to  anticipate  Donglas,  bo  far  at  least  as  to  und 
the  ground,  and  to  occupy  it  before  the  day." 


Is'*.  Til. 

••  And  -  •  li- 
no means.     Cottfi  will   have  been  made  avail. il 
to  draw  him  down  from  the  mountains      You  neither 

:  advantage.     B  ii  it    1   cannot  cosily  make  my 

self  in.  ur  minds  arc  occupied  with  different   I 

iuI  the  trap  set  for  Douglas,  and   I  am  thinking 
In-  snare  lie  has  laid  For  you.     Depend  upon  it.  Colonel  ! 
that  tl.  .  of  eatohing  a  Tartar,  may  be  illustrated  by  catching 

the  river  lulls.     He  may  be  caught  ;  ami  yet,  neither 
conic  away  urn- 1  t  you  come.      '  itinued    Mason,  ••when   1 

in<[uiroil  of  this  Captain  Cottle  about  the  nature  of  the  greaad  #t  the 
Fiord,  behold,  he  had  not  taken  notice  of  it!  hut,  on  cm-.-  examination, 
by  finding  what  lie  did  not  .see,  I  am  satisfied  that  there  is  no  low 
ground,  nor  chared  land  at  the  place  ;   that  the   bilk   conic  sheer  down 

to  the  river,  and,  by  almost  necessary  oonseqaeaee,  that  the  road  leads 

through  a  deep  defile.  The  choice  of  such  a  place  confirms  my  su-pi- 
don  o[  Douglas's  plan,  and  affords  the  means  to  counterwork,  it.  If  we 
occupy  the  strong  points  of  the  ground,  ami  he'coiues  with  only  such  a 
body  of  men  a.s  Cottle  expects,  we  take   him  without  effusion  of  blood. 

■ii.es  in  force,  our  position  will  give  as  all  tin    advantage  he 

:   and,  trust  me,  in  that  case  we  -hall  ha\e  need  of  them.*' 
••  X<  1 ./  of./-//  nut  h/,  i  against  irregular*  .'"  drawled  Tr<  i  ingly, 

and  emphasizing  .very  word. 

"Our  discipline  and  exj  are  of  little  consequence,"  Bind  Ma- 

son, u  if  we  do  not  use  tin  in.  One  use  of  them  is  to  know  how  to  take 
advantages.  '* 

u  Be  it  00,"  said  Trevor  j  lt  I    shall   seek    none.      A    fair   field    and   a 
-ky  are  all  I  a.-k  ;   and  1  shall  he  careful  to  take  no  measure  which 
may  alarm  this  mountain  wolf,  and  drive  him  hack  to   his  den  before  I 
can  come  up  with  him." 

These  words  were  hardly  spoken   when    the   Orderly  announced  that 

.u.t  of  dragOOM    had  ju-t    returned    from  a    BOOUtiog  party  with 

important  intelligence,  and  had  come  to  make  his  report  to  the  Colonel. 

What  this  WOS  the   reader  will    inf.  r,  when    told   that   he   was  the  uon- 

eommissioned  officer  on  whom  had  d.  rolved  tin'  command  of  the  four 

men  who  had  escaped  with  him  from  Jones's  Ford.  His  information 
confirmed  M  uspioions,  and  might  have  served  as  a  damper  to 

the  flattering  anticipations  Of  a  man  less  sanguine  than  Colonel  Trevor. 
Its  only  effect  on  him  was  to  sharpen  his  eagerness  for  the  expected  ren- 
contre. Vet  the  8<  rgeant,  when  (puestioned,  frankly  admitted  that  his 
party  had  not  heen  out-numbered.  Hut  it  was  clear  that  their  design 
had  been,  by  some  means,  disclosed  to  Douglas;  and  his  advantage  had 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  187 

been  the  result  of  judicious  dispositions,  and   the  skill  of  his  men  in 
the  use  of  that  most  terrible  of  all  weapons. 

But  all  this  abated  nothing  of  Colonel  Trevor's  contempt  for  a  foe 
unskilled  in  the  manual  exercise,  ignorant  of  the  grand  manoeuvres, 
and  dressed  in  buckskin.  Every  attempt  on  the  part  of  Col.  Mason  to 
bring  him  to  listen  to  reason  proved  fruitless.  Indeed  the  conversation 
occasionally  took  such  a  turn  as  to  crcnto  a  doubt  in  the  mind  of  that 
gentleman,  whether  to  press  his  advice  any  farther  might  not  make  it 
difficult  to  reconcile  with  his  own  self-respect  the  deference  which  he 
knew  to  be  due  to  his  commander.  He  therefore  determined  to  receive 
and  execute  in  silence  all  orders  which  might  be  given,  and  leave  the 
event  to  Providence. 


Tin:    PARTI  !'ER. 


CHAPTER    X  XX  VII. 

dreadful  far  ilieir  ire 
Than  theirs,  who,  scorning  danger's  i 
In  i  iger  niood  to  battle  ca tne  ; 

Their  valor,  like  litflii  .niii', 

A  fierce,  but  fading  lire  ! 

if   length  from   his  trpul  adviser,  Col.  Trevor  was 

the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of  hia  anticipated  triumph:     He 

i  to  tread  on  air,  and,  with  ;i  Bashing  eye,  and  Bpread  nostrils,  to 

look  forward  to  the  glories,  and  snuff  uji  the  carnage  of  th<  i  \\  ected 

fight.     Such  was  hi.>  impatience  for  the  adventure,  that,  in  the  ■ 

!'  upticipation,  he  gave.n  hi  to  the  necc  ssary  preparations. 

li  c  for  th<  bo  in  readi- 

.  h,  with  a  supply  of  cartridg  itions  suitable  to 

tion. 

mher  at  length  arrived,  and  the  troops  took 
uji  the  line  of  march.     As  they  issued  in  glittering  rank  fn  m  ;! 

.  tri     Colonel,   proudly   mounted  on  his  stately 
charg  .  him    If  in  the  gateway  o^the  house,  where  he  had 

taken  up  his  quarters,  and  received  their  passing  salute.     The  portico 
house  \\::  '  with  female  figures;  tin-  win  re  clus- 

tered with  fair  faces;  Ihe  noble  oak-trees  in  the  yard  were  hung  with 
garlands,  in  toki  loyalty  of  tin1  household,  and  of  anticipated 

triumph  in  his  assured  victory.     Hut   tin1  Colonel  bow  nothing  of  this. 
His  eye  saw  not  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs,  liis  car  heard  not  the 
uing  in  (inn.-,  of  music  from  rosy  lij>s.     He  heard 
only  :'■  iid  clanging  bugle  j  he  saw  nothing  but 

ti  pings  of  his  well-drained  troops  as  they  marched  by; 

an-1  then,  hie  eye,  1"  llowing  them,  dwelt  with  delight  upon  their  pio- 

WOUnd    along    the    slope,   of  the  hill,  and 

I   I  idge.     Ueyond  this,   imagination    presented  ob- 

F  rest — the   tattle  field,  the  tumult  of  the  strife, 

!i.  the  pursuit,  the  carnage,  the  vanquished  leader  led  in  chains 
loot  of  tin-  throne,  the  gracious  smile  of  approving  majesty,  and 
the  rich  rewards  of  successful  valor.     These  things  he  saw;  but  saw 
i.   !  the  gaunt    figure    of   his   host,    who  stood  mar,  his  strong  features 


TIIE    FARTISAN    LEADER.  189 

and  manly  person  illy  sorting  with  the  abject  part  he  condemned  him- 
self to  act.  He  sought  in  vain  to  catch  the  eye  of  the  excited  com- 
mander, desirous,  in  his  parting  words,  to  convey  some  expression  of 
loyalty  and  zeal.  Colonel  Trevor  marked  him  not,  and,  as  the  rear  of 
the  column  was  about  to  pass,  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  galloped  t<> 
the  front. 

At  this  point  of  my  story,  I  must  crave  the  indulgence  of  the 
reader,  while  I  introduce  my  humble  self  to  his  notice.  A  native  of 
South  Carolina,  and  the  heir  of  a  goodly  inheritance,  which,  during  a 
long  minority,  had  been  at  nurse  in  the  nanus  of  an  honest  and  pru- 
dent guardian,  T  was  just  of  age,  the  master  of  a  handsome  income, 
and  of  a  large  sum  of  money  in  hand.  Having  a  taste  for  military 
life,  my  guardian  had  procured  me.  a  situation  in  the  military  academy, 
which  had  been  established  by  the  State,  as  a  counterpoise  to  that  in- 
stitution at  which  the  Federal  Government  had  taught  so  many  of  our 
southern  youths  to  whet  their  swords  against  the  only  sovereignty  to 
which  they  owed  allegiance.  My  proficiency  had  been  seen,  and  gave 
entire  satisfaction  to  my  teachers.  I  had  imbibed  political  opin- 
ions which  made  me  a  zealous  advocate  for  the  rights  of  the 
States,  and  a  strenuous  asscrter  of  the  unalienable  independence  of 
South  Carolina.  "When,  in  compliance  with  the  request  of  Mr.  1> — , 
enquiry  had  been  made  for  a  young  man  qualified  and  disposed  to  aid 
3'oung  Trevor  in  his  enterprise,  I  had  been  selected  for  that  purpose. 
I  was  invited  to  Columbia,  made  acquainted  with  the  plans  of  the  in- 
surgents in  Virginia,  ami  provided  with  letters  to  my  future  com- 
mander. Journeying  to  Arirginia  by  the  route  that  he  had  purai 
on  the  evening  of  the  first  day  of  November  I  entered  the  valley  de- 
scribed in  the  first  chapter.  I  soon  encountered  a  crowd  of  men, 
filled  the  road  and  the  yard  of  a  house  contiguous  to  it.  There  were 
wagons,  horses,  and  arms ;  and  the  men,  moving  quietly  but  bu 
seemed  all  earnestly  engaged  in  some  important  preparation, 

I  was  presently  stopped,  courteously  though  peremptorily  :  and  hav- 
ing expressed  a  wish  to  sec  Captain  Douglas,  w  is  conducted  to  the 
house.  There,  pen  in  hand,  and  busily  engaged  in  writing,  sat  a  young 
man  of  small  stature  and  slight  figure.  Though  quite  htndsoo 
was  nothing  remarkable  in  his  features,  but  a  bright  gray  eye,  of  calm, 
thoughtful  and  searching  expression,  strongly  contrasted  «with  the  dark 
brown,  curling  hair  that  clustered  over  his  brow. 

Ueing  accosted  by  my  conductor,  he  raised  his  head — when  I  si 
forward,  and  '  in)  my  led'  i        ''•  glanced  hastily  to  the  signa- 

ture of  the   first    h^   Oj  I   read   it  leisurely,  and  looking  at  me 

With  A  beaming  countc  anc  hand.     "You  arc  welcome, 


1C»0  TH:  \n   LBADBBi 

sir/'  said  he,  u  welcome  to  danger's  hour.     In  the  morning  pre  march 
on  an  expedition  which   may  decide  the  fate  of  the  campaign.     My 

ementfl  must  excuse  my  seeming  neglect  of  you  this  eveni 
But  lit  me  make  yon  known  to  your  future  comradi 

Then  taming  to  :i  lair  haired  youth,  already  known  to  the  reader  as 
Arthur  Trevor,  he  introduced  him  as  his  mother's  son.  I  was  then 
made  acquainted  with  Schwartz  and  Witt,  and  several  others.  Among 
the  number  were  a  Jew  young  men  from  the  lower  counties,  of  irood 
families  and  education,  who,  in  this  crisis,  had  left  their  hnines  to  en- 
in  this  expedition.     These,  like  their  leader,  had  all  learned  to 

mmodate  themselves  to  the  fashions  of  tliat  wild  country,  and  it* 
wilder  climate,  and  especially  to  their  own  wild  life.  Each  individual 
was  dn  BSi  d.  from  top  to  toe,  in  leather,  no  otherwise  differing  from  the 

-  of  tin  rudest  mountaineer,  than  in  neatness,  and  a  certain  easy 
grace,  and  air  of  fashion,  which  no  dress  can  entirely  eonceal.  Tn  any 
i!i'  ss,  in  any  company,  under  any  circumstances,  Douglas  Tr<  vor  would 
have  been  recognised  as  a  gentleman. 

I  hardly  remember  how  T  fared,  or  how  I  passed  the  night 

!  •,<•  somewhat  better  than  most  others j  but   1  took 

to  Bhow  that   1    was  content  to  eat    wh.it    I    could  g<  t,  and  U)  lodge 

as  I  might. 

At 'daylight  wc  were  on  the  road.  Hut  little  attention  was  paid  to 
order.  No  enemy  was  near,  and  nobody  was  inclined  to  desert.  There 
was  theretoic  no  necessity  for  harassing  men  and  hoi-,.-,  by  forcing 
tlieiu  m  keep  in  rank.-.  Bach  man  rode  where,  and  with  whom  lie 
pleaeed,  except  thai  a  few  were  directed  to  keep  near  the  wagons,  not 
so  much  to  -uard  as  to  aasial  in  ease  of  need  It  is  impossible  to  con- 
ceive a  military  array  with  less  of  the  •<  pomp  and  circumstance  id' 
tVir."  The  horses  wire,  for  the  DXOSl  part,  substantial,  and  in  suhstan- 
tial  order.  Their  equipments  were  of  the  rudest  Bort.  Hough-bridles  . 
and  pack-saddles  wera  most  ooinmoas  The  only  arms  were  the  rifle, 
knife,  and  tomahawk,  with  their  appropriate  accompaniments  of  pow- 
der horn,  charger,  and  pouch.     Doaglas,  indeed,  had  a  Bword,  and  the 

i,w  Babrcs  taken  from    the    dragoons    had    hcen    distributed  anion-  the 

principal  men.  But  they  were  all  too  wise  to  encumber  their  persons 
with  these  weapons,  which  might  have  been  troublesome  in  their  mode 
of  warfare.  A  Btrong  loop  of  thick  leather,  stitched  to  the  .skirt  of 
the  saddle,  in  front  of  the  left  knee,  received  the  sword,  the  hilt  of 
which  stood  up  above  the  pummel.  Two  or  three  of  the  saddles  were 
of  the  Spanish  fashion,  the  horn  of  which  served  to  BUpport  any  trifle 
the  rider  might   wUh    to   hang  on   it.     Douglas,  in  particular,  curried, 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER.  191 

in  this  way,  a  leather   case,  containing  his  writing  materials,  and  serv- 
ing as  a  tablet  for  writing  on  horseback. 

But  rude  as  these  equipments  were,  yet  to  one  acquainted  with  the 
object  of  the  expedition,  there  was  an  appearance  of  efficiency  in  the 
whole  which  gave  the  corps  a  truly  formidable  aspect.  The  perfect 
order  of  the  arms,  the  strong,  though  rude  dress  of  the  men,  their 
sinewy  frames,  their  sunburnt  faces;  and,  above  all,  the  serious  and 
resolved  expression  of  countenance  which  generally  prevailed,  were 
tokens  which  none  but  a  martinet  would  overlook. 

As  yet  no  duty  had  been  assigned  to  nic,  so  that  I  was  perfectly 
disengaged.  It  was  not  until  we  had  rode  several  miles,  that  Douglas  « 
found  leisure  to  converse  with  me.  He  then  joined  me,  accompanied 
by  Schwartz,  to  whom,  in  my  presence,  he  explained  my  situation. 
Schwartz  heard  him  with  thoughtful  attention,  and  then  said — "  It  is 
all  mighty  well,  sir,  if  Mr.  Sidney  will  only  just  take  it  right.  You 
sec,  sir,"  continued  he,  addressing  me,  "  there  an't  no  officers  among 
us,  and  we  only  just  call  the  Captain  so  for  short.  If  he  was  a  Cap- 
tain or  a  Gineral  it  would  not  make  much  odds,  because  these  fellows 
just  go  for  what  is  right  and  hard  fighting;  and  him  they  believe  in, 
him  they  mind.  But  as  to  who  is  first  and  who  is  second,  that's  neither 
here  nor  there.  I  have  not  a  doubt  that  you  are  the  sort  of  a  man 
we  want ;  but  all  that  we  can  do,  is  to  give  you  a  fair  chance  to  let  the 
men  sec  it.  The  Captain  can  be  asking  your  advice,  now  and  then, 
and  I  and  Witt  will  do  the  same,  and  when  they  see  that,  they  will 
begin  to  find  out  what  yo^are.  And  then,  you  see,  sir,  when  once  we 
get  to  fighting,  a  man  is  never  in  such  a  flurry  himself,  but  what  he 
can  see  who  knows  what  he  is  about,  and  who  does  not.  So,  by  the 
time  we  have  had  a  Bkrimmage  or  two,  the  men  will  know  all  about 
you  ;  and  whenever  the  Captain  is  out  of  the  way,  they  will  all  be  look- 
ing to  you  to  know  what  to  do;  just  in  the  way  of  giving  \nur 
opinion,  mind  ;  but,  a/ler  n  while,  it  will  get  to  bo  orders.  And  then, 
if  any  thing  happens  to  the  Captain,  and  Wilt  and  I  don't  sec  cans.- 
to  change  oar  mind,  why,  we  only  just  have  to  follow  you,  and  the 
men  they  follow  us,  and  all  will  go  straight.  So  you  must  just  make 
yourself  easy  and  keep  quiet.  We'll  tell  you  when  to  speak,  and 
after  ;:  while  you'll  find  yourself  second  in  command  h'Torc  you  know 

I  had  no  difficulty  in  acknowledging  the  reasonableness  of  these 
ideas,  though  i'  reemed  a  new  thing,  to  find  a  man  possessing  the  influ- 
ence and  authority  of  Schwactz,  dc vising  means  to  transfer  them  to 
another.     Bui  he  knew,  and  the  cvenl  showed  that  I  J;t,  that 

thore  wore  some  duties  of  a  commander  for  which   he  was  not  fit;  and 


Tin:    PARTISAN    i 

■  there  were  other  tl  hieh  ;■•  cl 

tlior. 
third  of  N 
Gordon!     On  the  way  wo  had  received  frequent 
.  and  h<  n  I  larger  n  inforccn  < 

whole  Dumber  could  not  hi  much,  if  at  all,  short  of  a  thou- 

sand nun. 

Meantimi  ime  in,  from  whom  wc  learned  that  the  saim  day 

had  been  fix  1  for  the  march  of  the  troops  from  Lynchl  urg.  It  fol- 
lowed thai  we  had  abundance  of  time  for  our  preparations.  It  >o  hap- 
»  pened, that  they  had  not  learned  the  name  of.  the  new  commander  • 
but  it  wm  understood  that  a  reinforcement  had  arrived,  and  that  nearlj 
the  whole  disposable  force  was  on  the  maroh.  This  included  a  troop 
nf  dragoons  and  a  company  bf  artillery,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon,  in 
addition  to  a  full  regiment  of  infantry,  am'  one  battalion  of  another. 

Having  ascertained  his  force,  and  fixed  on  those  on  whom  he  could 
rely  to  understand  and  i  xecute  his  plans,  Douglas  proceeded  to  n 
temporary  organisation,  suited  to  the  occasion.     The  men  were  dh 
into  corps,  to  each  of  which  a  post  was  provisionally  assigned,  I 
ooeui  i<  1  aa  soon  as  the  approach  of  the  enemy  should  be  annoui 

near  the  bead  of  the  defile,  and  just  above  tl     first 
angle  next  the  top  of  tl"'  asci  nt,  «  n  i  barricadi 

similar  I  Iready  described.     ]  on  each  side,  to  the 

foot  of  the  hills,  at  steep,   rocky,  and   impracticable  points.     It  was 

I  Bg  enongh    for   t\v<  nty    men    to    man    its  flrc-nty  loop  holes,   and  as  it 

rsached  above  their  heads,  they  wen    quite  concealed.     An  lnu 
men  were  allotted  to  this  post,  who  were  ranged   five  deep  behind  the 
barricade,  and  instructed  to  fire  in  turn,  each  man  falling  back  to  the 
rear  to  n  '  he  had  <]  his  piece. 

Others  were  distributed  along  tl  of  the  hills  over- 

looking the  road,  and  directed  to  seek  out  hiding-places  behind  r< 
tret  i,  and  bushes.     These  men  wen  ander  the  immediate  orders  of  in- 
dividuals selected   for  the  occasion,  but  a(  ached  to  the  command  of 
Witt,  who  was  stationed  at  the  l'.irii-  r. 

About  a  hundred  were  placed  in  ambush  in  the  month  of  the  ravine, 
jm-t  below  the  road,  on  the  north  rid  ■  ol  the  river,  under  Sch warts. 
Th<  '1  picked  men— our  stead i  b(  and  harp-shooters — 

who  w<  I  there  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  and  carrying  the 

guns  of  the  enemy  at  the*  water's  edge. 

Douglas  himself,  at  the  head  of  the  res'  of  bis  corps,  prepared  to 
occupy  the  road  On  the  north  side  of  the  river,  to  bring  00  the  action. 
These  were   divided   into  two   equal  bodies,  and  the  whole  ranged  in 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  198 

platoons,  at  open  order,  across  the  road.  Of  the  two  battalions,  as  they 
may  he  called,  the  foremost  was  placed  under  my  command.  The 
other  Douglas  commanded  in  person.  My  orders  were  to  post  my 
headmost  platoon  just  at  the  bend  of  the  road,  on  the  top  of  the  hill 
where  it  turns  to  the  right.  They  were  instructed  to  fire  ad  limitum, 
each  man  choosing  and  making  sure  of  his  mark,  and  then  to  file  away 
by  the  right,  and,  taking  to  their  heels,  to  run  down  to  the  river,  cross 
it,  and  dispose  themselves  on  the  other  bank,  so  as  most  effectually  to 
gall  the  enemy,  should  he  attempt  to  cross.  Each  platoon,  in  succes- 
sion, was  to  march  up  to  the  same  ground,  and,  having  fired,  to  execute 
the  same  manoeuvre.  The  remaining  column,  under  Douglas,  were  to 
stand  their  ground  until  the  enemy  should  come  in  view  on  the  top  of 
the  hill,  and  then  to  fall  back  fighting,  and  cross  under  cover  of  those 
who  should  have  passed  before.  But  the  best  account  of  what  waf 
ordered  will  be  gathered  from  what  was  done. 


dl 


el  bv  ■ 


13 


114  THE    PARTISAN    LBAD1V 


CHAPTER    XX  XV  III 

The  triumph  ami  the  vanity, 

The  rapture  of  the  Mrife  ; 
The  earthquake  vo  >ry. 

To  thee  the  breath  of  life  ; 
All  quelled  : — Dark  spirit,  what  must  be 
Xne  madness  "i  thy  memory? 

WHILE  these  arrangements  were  in  progress,  scouts  were  hourly 
arriving.  The  country  being  altogether  friendly,  they  were  readily 
provided  with  fresh  horses ;  and,  before  the  enemy  were  half  way 
from  Lynchburg,  we  were  fully  apprised  of  their  number,  equipments, 
and  order  of  march,  l'irst  earns  a  Bquadroo  of  dragoons  ;  then  a  light 
•ompacTj  then  Treyor's  regiment,  about  five  hundred  strong  j  then  a 
company  of  artillery  ;  then  one  battalion  of  Mason's  regiment,  oon- 
iisting  of  aon>  thing  more  than  two  hundred  nun  ;  the  whole  followed 
by  a  lew  light  troops,  by  way  of  rear-iruurd.  The  whole  might  amount 
to  a  thousand  men,  well  appointed  and  prepared  at  all  points  for  effi- 
cient action. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  of  November  the  men  were  ordered  to 
betake  themselves  to  their  allotted  posts;  and  Douglas,  having  visited 
each,  and  seen  that  all  was  right,  and  rightly  understood,  addressed 
himself  to  his  particular  command,  When  every  man  is  an  officer, 
each  must  be  told  individually  beforehand  what  is  expected  from  him 
Panic  apart,  they  will  be  apt  to  fulfil  such  instructions,  and  will  light 
with  the  terrible  efficiency  of  individual  animosity.  Hence  the  formida- 
ble character  of  partisan  warfare. 

At  IcngjJi  the  enemy  made  their  appearance.  Clinging  to  the  idea 
'  niglas,  Col.  Trevor  sent  forward  no  advance,  but  deter- 
mined  cs>h<  .mg  the  whole  strength  of  his  corps  to  bear  upon  him  at 
once.  If  he  employed  any  scouts,  they  were  either  unfaithful,  or  were 
not  permitted  to  approach  near  enough  to  learn  any  thing  of  the  posi 
tion  or  movements  of  Douglas.  The  consequence  was,  that  Col.  Trevor 
received  the  first  intimation  of  his  presence  from  a  sharp  firing  in 
front,  which  sent  his  horse  to  the  right-about  and  back  to  the  rear. 
Pressing  forward,  he  immediately  ordered  his  sharp-shooters  to  disperse 
am?  *ike  positions  to  gall  us,  while  he  pushed  on  his  solid  column  of 


TIIE    PARTISAN   LEADEE.  195 

heavy  infantry.  The  reception  prepared  for  thera  was  such  as  he  had 
not  dreamed  of..  His  men  fell  like  leaves  in  autumn — and,  as  fast  a> 
one  platoon  of  the  mountaineers  discharged  their  pieces,  another  was 
on  the  same  ground  to  pour  in  again  that  terrible  fire,  of  which  the 
martinets  of  the  regular  service  have  so  inadequate  an  idea.  Instead 
of  the  deep-mouthed  peal  of  muskets,  discharged  simultaneously,  there 
is  the  sharp,  short  crack  of  rifle  after  rifle,  fired  by  men  no  one  of 
whom  touches  the  trigger  until  he  sees  precisely  where  his  ball  is  to 
go.  The  effect  was  suitable  to  the  cause;  but  yet  the  steady  infantry 
pressed  on', 

':  Each  stepping  where  his  comrade  stood," 

to  form  an  unbroken  front,  in  order  to  charge  with  the  bayonet. 

Suddenly  the  firing  ceased,  and,  behold,  their  enemy  seemed  to 
have  fled  from  the  expected  charge.  The  fact  was,  that  my  last  pla- 
toon, having  fired,  had  withdrawn  like  their  predecessors,  and  wen- 
running  at  full  speed  after  their  companions,  down  the  hill  and  aero?- 
the  river.  At  the  water's  edge,  I  stopped  and  joined  Schwartz  in  his 
ambush.  It  had  been  arranged  that  I  should  do  this ;  because,  in  case 
wc  should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  seize  the  cannon,  my  skill  as  an  artil- 
lerist might  be  of  great  use.  Meantime,  my  men  having  crossed  over, 
dispersed  themselves  along  the  bank,  the  face  of  the  hills,  and  ae: 
the  road,  to  cover  the  retreat  of  those  who  remained. 

The  regulars  had  necessarily  spent  a  few  moments  in  repairing  the 
wreck  of  their  shattered  column  before  they  advanced.  They  then 
moved  forward,  but,  before  they  turned  the  angle  of  the  road,  most  of 
my  men  were  across  the  river.  At  the  same  time,  the  column  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Douglas  was  seen  drawn  up  in  the  road, 
near  the  foot  of  the  hill,  with  the  rear  resting  on  the  water's  edge.  As 
the  enemy  advanced  the  front  platoon  fired,  faced  to  the  right,  and 
filing  along  the  flank  of  the  column,  entered  the  river,  and  crossed  just 
below  the  ford.  They  next  filed  to  the  left  in  the  same  way,  and 
crossed  above  the  ford.  In  this  manner  the  whole  column  disappeared, 
one  platoon  ,after  another,  while  their  fire  was  answered  by  a  roar  of 
musketry,  which,  being  discharged  from  the  higher  ground,  did  more 
harm  to  those  on  the  farther  bank  of  the  river  than  to  the  nearer  ene- 
my. At  length  the  last  platoon  was  withdrawn,  and  the  regular* 
rushed  down  toward  the  river  0>r  the  purpose  pf  annoying  them  ii 
cross.ng.  In  this  attempt  they  were  again  checked  and  driven  back 
by  the  terrible  fire  of  my  men,  who,  having  already  crossed,  v. 
drawn  up,  as  I  have  said,  on  the  other  bank. 


Tin: 

w.saw  tlio  necessity  of  advancing  his  artillery,  which 
cordinghj  harried  down  t<>  the  wen  to  'liar  a  paean] 

■;.       By  the  time  toe  cannon  were  untimbered,  nbt  a  man  of 

antaim  <  rs  was   U)   be   seen.      As  soon    as   their   companid 

I,  they  dispersed  with  every  appearance  of  confusion  and  alarm; 
ng  tin-  road,  and  sonic  clambering  np  ilic  hills  on 
both  Bides  of  it- 

The  way  was  dow  open,  and  the  infantry  advan.  -  the  river. 

pel  Mason,  riding  np  to  Colonel  Trevor,  pointed 

out  the  advantageous  position  of  the  artiller  cr  to' his  rear,  if 

oed  to  retreat    uGive  me  leave  to  su  id  he, 

•'  that  it  may  be  well  to  leave  the  cannon  where  they  are.     The  cavalry, 
•    -with   effect  among  those  hills,  and  the   two   together, 
fortune  of  the  day  be  unpropitions,  may  be   of  more  use 
here  than  on  the  other  side." 

•.true,"  said  Trevor.      "  Tt  shall)'  |  idvise,  and  yon, 

''olonel,  will  remain  in  command  of  this  reserve." 

•' I  earnestly  beg,  sir,"   said    Mason,   "that   you   will    not   deny  mc  a 
share  in  the  work  of  the  day.      The  Captains  of  artillery  and  .!:. 
..re  all-sufficient  to  the  command  of  their  respective  corps." 

"  1'ardon  me,  sir."  said  Trevor.     •■  \    B<      m  be  BO  proper  to  execute 

vour  prudent  and  cautioua  device  as  yon,  its  author.     You  will  be 

|,  therefoD  r  to  the   rear,  rally  the  .and    bring 

them  down  to  tie  wan  r*s  edge.     Li  t  them  be  ready  to  cross  at  a  mo- 

MientV  warning,  '■<  the  pursuit  at  I  have  driven  the 

.  neiny  into  die  plain." 

ing  this,  Colonel  Trevor  turned  off,  and  giving  tlie  word  to  march. 
dashed  into  the  river.  Poor  Mason,  insulted  and  mortified,  neverthe- 
less patiently  addressed  himself  to  the  duty  assigned  him.  Tims  was 
his  able  and  brave  man  denied  all  participation  in  an  affair  which  his 
arrogant  and  sanguine  commander  believed  to  be  an  abounding  source 
,f  honor  to  all  who  might  be  engaged  in  it. 
1  have  omitted  to  mention  that,  as  -  -  n  as  the  plan  of  endeavoring 

to  surprise  the  artillery  had   been   adopted,  Schwartz  had  requested  me 

to  draw  the  outline  of  a  piece  of  mounted  ordnance  in  the  sand,  and 
to  mark  the  proper  positions  of  the  artillerists  employed  about  it. 

While  1  did  tins,  some  t^n  or  fifteen  of  our  lust  marksmen    • 1  by, 

looking  on  attentively.     When  my  sketch  was  done,  he  turned  to  one 
,f  ti,,  |  i,  and  ;  lintii  .:  to  one  of  the  marks  made  to  stand  for  an  artil- 
lerist said  coolly:  "Now,  this  i<  your  man;"  and  to  another,  "this 
irs."     Thus  be  went  on  till  he  had  doomed  every  victim. 
While  we  are  supplying  this  omission  in  our  narrative,  the  reader  will 


THE    PARTISAN   LEADER.  107 

please  suppose  that  Col.  Trevor's  regiment  have  forded  the  river,  and 
have  passed  up  the  road  and  out  of  sight.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
the  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  defile  had  been  lined  with  concealed 
marksmen,  and  that  the  greater  part  of  the  advance  had,  on  recrossine 
the  river,  thrown  themselves  into  the  same  places  of  concealment.  But 
the  idea  that  they  had  done  so  for  any  purpose  but  that  of  safety. 
entered  not  into  Col.  Trevor's  mind.  Indeed,  if  he  had  had  any  doubt, 
it  must  have  been  removed  when  he  found,  that  as  his  column  wound 
through  the  deep  defile,,  not  a  shot  molested  their  march.  At  tlic  first 
angle  of  the  road  he  halted  and  let  the  column  march  past  him.  He 
could  see,  from  this  point,  both  the  head  of  it,  as  it  advanced,  and  the 
rear  as  it  came  #p.  As  the  later  passed  the  spot  where  he  stood,_the 
leading  platoon  was  in  the  act  of  turning  the  next  angle  of  the  road. 
At  that  moment  he  heard  the  startling  report  of  a  volley  of  rifles.  He 
set  spurs  to  his  horse  to  gallop  to  the  front,  when  every  rock  and  every 
tree  of  the  surrounding  hills  burst  into  flame,  and  the  deep  ravine 
echoed  to  the  report  of  a  hundred  rifles.  A  shot  struck  his  horse,  and 
another  piercing  his  hat,  grazed  the  top  of  his  head  deep  enough  to  lay 
bare  the  skull,  and  stun  him  as  he  fell  under  his  slaughtered  horse. 
He  was  thus  placed  hors  de  combat,  owing  the  preservation  of  his  life 
to  the  iusigna  of  his  rank  which  had  endangered  it. 

The  sound  of  this  firing  was  the  signal  for  us.     Each  of  the  selected 
marksmen   fixed  his  aim  on  his  appropriate  victim  ;  and,  at  a 
from  Schwartz,  the  artillerymen  at  the  guns  fell  as  if  swept  away 
breath  of  a  tempest.     Rushing  from" our  hiding-place,  the  cannon  were 
instantly  in  our  possession.     The  company  of  artillery  were  not  slow  to 
disappear  behind  the  angle  of  the  rock,  and  one   or  two  who  ; 
out,  being  instantly  picked  off,  wc  saw  no  more  of  them. 

Presently  we  heard  the  heavy  tramp  of  the  squadron- slowly  descend- 
ing the  hill,  accompanied  with  the  peculiar  sound  of  dragoons,  dr< 
the  front  in  preparation  for  a  sudden  and  overwhelming  charge.  While 
this  was  passing,  our  guns  were  all  reloaded.  "Mind,  boys. 
Schwartz;  "all  of  number  one."  The  word  was  understood,  and 
every  alternate  man  stood  ready,  with  rifle  cocked  and  trigger  set,  te 
receive  the  enemy.  The  charge  was  sounded,  and  the  Lading  horse- 
men,  wheeling  around  the  rock,  were  rushing  on  at  full  speed,  when 
•  and  riders  were  seen  to  go  d<  wn.in  one  promiscuous  heap.  The 
r  number  of  the  squadron  Men-  slill  out  of  sight;  and,  bad  the 
way  been  open,  might  have  followed  to  share  the  fate  of  their  com- 
panions, and  finally  to  ride  us  down  when  our  guns  should  have  been 
all  discharged.  But  the  work  had  been  done  too  effectually.  The 
dead  and  wounded  (both  horse'and  ridn     Dearly  flMed  the  road;  and 


198  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

ons  to  pick  their  way  among  such  appalling  obstacles,  in  the 
of  fifty  loaded  rifles,  at  a  distance  of  twenty  paces,  was  qnt  i  f  the 

question.     A  few  who  made  the  attempt  found  this  to  their  co.^t.     The 
charge  was  not  renewed,  and  some  of  our  men  advancing  to  the  ai 
of  the  rock,  and  occupying  inaccessible  but  commanding  points  on  the 
hills,  soon  made  them  draw  off  to  a  sale  distance. 

"While  this  was  doing,  I,  with  the  few  men  selected  for  the  service 
of  the  artillery,  gave  my  attention  to  that.  Glancing  my  eye  along 
both  pieces,  I  saw  that  both  had  been  accurately  pointed  into  the  road 
on  the  ether  side.  I  had  nothing,  therefore  to  do  bttt  to  apply  the 
port-fire,  which  was  fctill  burning  in  the  clenched  hand  of  a  dead  artil- 
lerist. By  this  time  the  column  had  fallen  back,  an*  the  road  below 
the  first  angle  was  fast  filling  with  the  retreating  mass.  I  had  never 
before  witnessed  the  effusion  of  blood;  and,  heated  as  mine  now  was, 
it  ran  cold  as  I  applied  the  match.  As  the  smoke  cleared  off,  I  saw 
the  enemy  throwing  away  their  anus,  and  stretching  out  their  hands, 
some  toward  me,  and  some  aloft  to  the  unseen  foe  that  galled  them 
from  the  hills.  The  fire  instantly  slackened,  and  cravats  and  handker- 
chiefs being  raised  on  the  points  of  swords  and  bayonets,  it  ceased  alto- 
gether. The  mountaineers  now  poured  down  from  the  hills  into  the 
ravine,  securing  the  arms  of  the  enemy,  mixing  among  them  and  hem- 
ming them  in  on  every  side.  Douglas,  whose  place  since  he  had  re- 
crossed  the  river,  had  been  among  these  concealed  marksmen,  was  one 
of  the  first  to  approach  the  enemy.  Advancing  to  those  whose  rank 
was  most  conspicuous,  he  made  known  his  authority,  and  received  their 
swords. 

Meantime  Col.  Trevor  had  recovered  his  senses,  and  found  himself 
fastened  to  the  ground  by  the  weight  of  his  horse,  which  lay  upon  his 
leg.  He  was  presently  discovered,  relieved,  and  helped  to  rise.  At 
this  moment  he  caught  the  eye  of  Douglas,  who  hastened  to  him,  less 
from  impatience  to  demand  his  sword  than  to  offer  assistance  to  one 
who  seemed  to  be  an  officer  of  high  rank,  and  .badly  wounded.  In  the 
figure  before  him,  all  smeared  with  blood  and  dirt,  he  .saw  nothing  by 
which  he  could  recognize  his  brother.  To  the  Colonel,  the  disguise  of 
Douglas  was  hardly  less  complete.  lie  had  seen  him  receiving  the 
surrender  of  others,  and  stood  prepared  to  go  through  the  same  humili- 
ating ceremony.  He  felt  that  his  own  disgrace  was  complete,  and  the 
form  of  surrender  was  thought  of  with  indifference.  He  had  already 
reached  the  lowest  depth  of  abasement. 

"  But  in  that  lowest  depth  a  lower  deep"  seemed  to  open,  when,  as 
he  extended  his  hand  to  deliver  his  sword  to  the  victor,  he  discovered 
that  the  hand  put  forth  to  receive  it  Was  that  of  Douglas.     IJe  flung 


THE   PARTISAN  LEADER-  199 

down  his  sword,  stamping  with  rage,  and  immediately  after  called  to 
his  men  to  resume  their  arms.  The  voice  struck  the  ear  of  Douglas, 
though  dissonant  with  passion.  The  figure,  too,  confirmed  his  suspicion 
of  the  truth ;  and  he  immediately  rushed  to  screen  his  brother  with 
his  own  body  from  the  rifles  pointed  against  him.  Calling  for  aid  to 
those  around,  he  presently  succeeded  in  securing  the  Colonel,  and  after 
one  or  two  fruitless  attempts  to  soothe  him,  ordered  him  away  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Gordon.  To  that  gentleman  he  spoke  aside,  and  ex- 
plaining in  confidence  the  strange  scene  that  he  had  just  witnessed, 
besought  him  to  take  command  of  the  escort,  and  to  pay  all  imaginable 
attention  to  the  health,  comfort,  and  feelings  of  the  Colonel.  He  was 
accordingly  led  away,  raging  and  foaming  at  the  mouth  like  a  spoiled 
child  who  has  been  deprived  of  his  toy,  or  baulked  in  his  amusement 
The  mortification  of  Douglas  was  extreme;  but  he  had  the  satisfaction 
to  find  that  Arthur  was  not  present;  and  to  no  other  person  but 
Schwartz  and  myself  did  the  name  of  Colonel  Trevor  afford,  a  hint  of 
the  connexion. 


1Mb  TITE    TARTISAN*    LEADER. 


CHATTER    XXXIX 


Ii  ili, .11  didst  but  consent 


To  this  most  cruel  act,  do  but  despair  ; 

And  if  thou  want'st  a  cord,  tin  iread 

Th:i-  lei  twitted  from  her  w 

Will  serve  tn  Mranple  thee  :  a  rush  will  be 

A  beam  to  hang  thee  on!     Or,  v/ouldst  thorn  drown  thyself. 

Put  but  a  little  water  in  a  spoon, 

And  it  shall  be,  as  all  the  ocean, 

Enough  to  sliile  such  a  villain  ! 

I  shall  not  detain  the  reader  with  a  detail  of  the  farther  particulars 
of  this  skirmish.  Indeed  we  hardly  staid  to  acquaint  owselrea  w i 1 1 
its  exact  results.  As  at  least  half  the  men  who  had  fought*  undei 
Douglas  on  that  day  had  no  intention  to  follow  him  any  farther,  we  left, 
U)  them  the  care  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  The  hody 
of  Col.  Mason  alone  was  selected  for  a  more  honorable  burial  than  the 
rude  hands  of  the  mountaineers  could  bestow.  It  was  dragged  from 
beneath  the  incumbent  mass  of  men  and  horses,  placed  on  a  suitable 
carriage,  covered  with  tbe  colors  of  his  regiment, and  taken  to  Lynch- 
burg, to  be  there  restored  to  his  companions  in  arms.  The  band  of 
hi.-  ngiment  were  also  marched  bo  that  place  to  assist  in  rendering  tin 
la.-t  huuors  to  their  late  conlmander. 

Having  given  the  necessary  orders,  Douglas  snatched  a  moment  to 
ride  to  Mr.  Gordon's,  where  he  hoped  to  find  his  brother  in  a  more 
reasonable  mood.  The  Colonel  had  been  confined  in  a  private  room  ; 
and  being  treated  with  great  courtesy  and  respect,  had  lost  nothing  oi 
his  arrogance.  Such  is  always  the  effect  of  delicate  attention  to  the 
undeserving.  A  man  of  merit  would  have  been  softened  and  melted 
by  the  deference  with  which  Colonel  Trevor  was  treated.  To  him  ii 
seemed  but  that  sort  of  spontaneous  homage  to  greatness  which  tin 
hear)  pays  unconsciously.  The  effect  of  it  was,  that  being  told  by  Mr. 
Gordon  that  his  brother  had  come  to  visit  him  in  his  room,  he  sent 
him  the  following  magnanimous  note,  pencilled  on  the  back  of  a  letter: 

"  I  am  your  prisoner.  Do  with  me  as  you  please.  Inflict  on  me 
any  death,  however  cruel;  but  spare  me  the  sight  of  one  whose  treasons 
have  dishonored  our  common  name,  and  who  has  deprived  me  of  my 
only  chance  to  restore  its  former  splendor." 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  201 

# 

Douglas  was  inexpressibly  shocked  at  this  manifestation  of  a  temper 
at  once  savage  and  coldly  selfish.  Rut  he  had  no  time  to  waste  in 
parleying  with  the  ungoverned  passions  of  his  brother,  and  wrote  an 
answer  tn  these  words : 

"You  are  my  prisoner,  and  mine  only,  and 'shall  be  treated  with  all 
tenderness  and  respect.  I  am  responsible  to  no  one  for  your  custody, 
and  you  shall  soon  be  at  liberty.  Go  home.  Go  to  our  venerable 
father,  and  comfort  his  declining  years.  If  the  instincts  of  your  heart 
do  not  restrain  you  from  fighting  against  your  brothers,  (for  Arthur  is 
with  me,)  let  a  sense  of  honor  make  you  regard  yourself  as  a  prisoner 
on  parole,  not  at  liberty  to  fight  again  against  Virginia.  Meantime 
your  sword  shall  be  restored,  and  you  shall  be  treated  in  all  things  as 
the  brother  of  D.  T." 

While  Douglas  was  engaged  in  this  painful  duty,  Arthur  was  em- 
ployed in  preparing  a  formal  report  of  the  events  of  the  day.  This 
was  signed  by  the  Chief  on  his  return,  and  with  it  the  young  man  was 
despatched  to  B — ,  with  instructions  to  ask  his  orders,  and  return  with 
them,  unless  another  messenger  should  be  preferred.  In  the  mean- 
time all  things  had  been  made  ready  for  the  march  to  Lynchburg.  I 
shall  not  give  the  history  of  this.  It  was  triumphal,  as  far  as  complete 
success  and  the  applauding  gratulations  of  the  people  could  make  it  so. 
We  had  no  difficulty  in  adding  to  our  numbers  as  many  men  as  the 
fruits  of  our  victory  enabled  us  to  supply  with  arms.  Some  joined  us 
instantly,  and  others  engaged  to  rendezvous  at  Lynchburg  in  a  few 
days. 

There  was  nothing  to  damp  the^pleasure  of  Douglas,  but  the  conduci 
of  his  perverse  brother,  and  the  presence  of  the  dead  body  of  his  old 
friend,  Colonel  Mason.  On  our  arrival  before  the  camp  at  Lynchburg, 
I  received  orders  to  present  myself  with  a  flag  before  the  gate,  at  the 
head  of  a  detachment  which  escorted  the  body,  accompanied  by  the 
music  of  his  band,  and  all  the  sad  and  imposing  insignia  of  a  military 
funeral. 

An  officer  came  out  to  meet  us,  and  thus  received  the  first  authentic 
history  of  the  fate  of  the  expedition.  I  was  instructed  to  deliver  over 
.the  body  of  Colonel  Mason  with  every  circumstance  of  respect  and 
courtesy.  I  was  also  charged  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  en- 
trenched camp,  and  of  the  garrison  as  prisoners  of  war. 

A  negotiation  ensued,  which  ended  in  a  suspension  of  arms  for  five 
days,  and  an  agreement  to  surrender  if,  in  that  time,  no  reinforcement 
arrived. 

This  arrangen  cnt  was  by  no  mean,,'?  unwelcome  to  Douglas.'  It  gave 
him  time  to  receive  and  organize  the  new  recruits  that  were  pouring 


202  THE    FARTISAK    LEADER. 

» 

wait  the  return  of  Arthur.     In  the  meantime  much  of  that 

sort  of  intercourse  which   is  common   on   sueh  occasions  took   • 

few  things  in  life  more  pleasant  than  it  is.    There  most  be 
malignity  in  human  nature  than   is  generally  su  *  or  men 

would  not  seise,  with  so  much  i  i,  on  opportunities  to  lose  the 

i<)< -a  of  public  hostility  in  the  kindly  interchange  of  courtesy  and 
offices.  Friendships  are  never  formed  mure  suddenly  and  cordially  than 
under  such  circumstances.  So  we  found  it  on  this  occasion.  Major 
Wood,  the  officer  in  command,  was  a  gentleman  and  soldier,  honorable, 
frank,  gen'mm-,  and  accomplished.  1  was  brought  much  into  contact 
with  him,  and  found  him  enthusiastic  in  his  acknowledgments  of  the 
of  Douglas,  and  eager  to  become  acquainted  with  him.  But  the 
time  had  not  come  when  he  was  willing  to  be  known  by  his  true  name; 
and  besides  that  he  was  acquainted  with  the  Major,  there  were  many 
in  the  camp  who  would  have  recognized  him.  He  therefore 
confined  himself  to  his  (juartcrs,  on  various  pleas  of  business;  and,  to 
make  his  seclusion  effectual,  took  lodgings  in  a  house  in  the  suburbs  of 
the  town.  ■  By  his  advice,  I  mixed  much  with  the  men ;  and,  a*  I  had 
acquitted  myself  to  their  entire  satisfaction  in  the  late  affair,  I  found 
that  I  was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  recognized  as  second  in  command. 
Schwartz  and  Witt  made  a  point  of  consulting  me  publicly  on  all  oc- 
casions; and  this  circumstance,  together  with  my  daily  attention  to  the 
organization  of  the  troops,  obtained  me  full  credit  for  all  my  military 
skill,  and  a  great  deal  more. 

The  five  days  passed  away  quite  pleasantly.  The  regulars,  finding 
that  they  were  not  like  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  savages,  were  becom- 
ing reconciled  to  the  fate  which  DOW  seemed  inevitable;  and  we  parted 
OH  the  last  night  pf  the  truce,  with  no  unpleasant  anticipations  of  the 
surrender  which  was  to  take  place  the  next  day  at  noon. 

The  morning  came,  and  our, men  paraded  in  high  spirits,  and  with 
considerable  show  of  order  and  discipline.  This  was  particularly  the 
ease  with  a  small  company  which  had  been  detailed  for  the  service  of 
the  artillery,  who  took  their  stand  at  the  guns  with  the  air  of  men 
proud  of  their  new  acquirements.  I  had  indeed  taken  great  pains  to 
train  and  exercise  them,  and,  by  universal  consent,  was  recognized  as 
the  immediate  commander  of  this  corps,  which  was  drawn  up  with  the 
cannon  planted  directly  against  the  gate  of  the  camp. 

All  this  time  Douglas  did  not  make  hie  appearance.  At  length  the 
hour  approached  for  the  garrison  to  march  out,  and  lay  down  their 
arms,  when  Schwartz  went  to  his  quarters  to  receive  his  orders.  He 
soon  returned,  and  taking  me  aside,  told  me  that  Douglas  was  not  at 
his  quarters,  and  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  203 

We  had  already  observed  appearances  in  the  camp  not  at  all  answer- 
able to  the  expected  surrender,  and  I  was  now  startled  at  this  intelli- 
gence. The  character  of  Major  Wood  forbade  indeed  any  suspicion  of 
foul  play.  But  the  time  was  near*  at  hand  when  the  enemy  should 
march  out,  and  we  heard  nothing  of  their  drums,  calling  the  men  to 
parade.  We  determined,  therefore,  to  send  a  flag  to  the  camp  on  some 
pretest.  The  officer  who  carried  it  was  immediately  warned  off,  and 
having  said  that  he  had  a  communication  for  Major  Wood,  was  told 
that  that  officer  was  no  longer  in  command,  and  that  Col.  Trkvor 
would  receive  no  communication  from  rebels  and  traitors. 

This  was  decisive.  The  quarters  of  Douglas  were  not  very  distant 
from  the  enemy,  and  such  had  been  the  appearance  of  perfect,  good 
faith  in  all  their  proceedings,  that  our  camp  had  been  guarded  even 
more  negligently  than  is  common  with  militia.  It  seemed,  indeed,  al- 
most incredible  that  Col.  Trevor  could  have  been  guilty  of  an  act  of 
base  treachery  against  the  life  or  liberty  of  his  generous  brother;  but 
to  Schwartz  and  myself,  who  knew  the  connexion,  even  this  seemed 
hardly  less  extravagant  than  his  former  conduct.  That  he  had  escaped, 
joined  the  troops,  and  disclaimed  the  capitulation  entered  into  by  Ma- 
jor Wood,  was  certain.  To  have  surprised  and  carried  off  Douglas 
could  not  be  much  worse. 

We  now  consulted  with  Witt,  to  wdiom  we  communicated  our  suspi- 
cions, at  the  same  time  disclosing  the  true  mine  of  our  young  com- 
mander, and  his  relation  to  Col.  Trevor.  What  was  suspicion  with  us, 
was  at  once  absolute  certainty  with  him.  I  do  not  think  I  ever  wit- 
nessed such  a  change  as  our  communication  made  in  the  whole  appear- 
ance, and  demeanor  of  the  man.  Heretofore,  I  had  always  seen  him 
cool,  cautious,  deliberate,  and  thoughtful.  There  was,  besides,  a  pre- 
vailing tone  of  benevolence  in  all  he  said,  which,  added  to  his  sobriety 
and  strong  sense,  gave  him  some  claim  to  the  title  of  philosopher.  But 
now  the  expression  of  his  countenance  was  terrible  and  awful.  He 
had  made  no  show  of  regard  for  Douglas;  but  his  attachment  was  deep 
and  abiding,  and  his  alarm  for  his  safety  was  in  the  same  degree.  He 
was  impatient  of  a  moment's  dela}-,  sternly  protc>tcd  against  wasting 
time  in  discussion,  and  insisted  on  immediately  storming  the  camp. 

Schwartz  was  nothing  behind  him  in  zeal,  though  less  disturbed  by 
passion  ;  and  we  presently  determined  to  bring  matters  to  extremities. 
As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  hour  appointed  for  surrender  arrived,  <  or 
captive  drummed  was  ordered  to  beat  a  parley.  To  this  the  only  :■ 
was  a  general  fire  of  musketry  from  the  whole  line  of  the  cam]'  <*n  that 
side,  by  which  a  few  men  were  hurt.  Bat  the  distance  wa 
for  any  serious  mischief.     Enough,  however,  was  done  to  excite  the 


2<">4  THE    PARTISAN    [.KADIS. 

men  to  fury  ;  and  without  waiting  fur  the  word,  they  rushed  to  the  as- 
sault.    Tin  ir  movement  determined  inc.     To  rush  up  to  the  piqueted 
entrenchment,  behind  which  Hie  enemy  were  in  comparatita 
was  to  expose  themselves  to  destruction.     It  was  indispensable  to  open 

a  way  for  them.  This  I  effected  hy  a  diseharge  of  both  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, which  tore  the  ^ratc  away,  and  pointed  their  attack  to  this  acces- 
sible  point,  The  moment  after,  Colonel  Treror,  with  his  untraceable 
rashness,  appeared  in  the  gateway,  shouting,  and  calling  to  his  men  to 
-ally  foril  us.     He  was  instantly  recognized  by  the  incensed 

Witt,  whose  fatal  aim  brought  him  to  the  ground.  His  men  fell  back; 
and  in  a  moment  after,  a  white  flag  was  raised. 

It  was  no  easy  matter  to  prevail  on  our  men  to  pa)'  any  regard  to  this 
lalj  but  wc  succeeded  in  restraining  them  before  it  was  tco  late. 
Of  course  we  demanded  the  instant  surrender  of  the  pluce,  which  was 
unhesitatingly  given  up.  Major  Wood  now  came  forward  to  apologist 
and  explain.  Col.  Trevor,  having  made  his  escape,  had  returned  to  the 
camp  soon  after  tattoo.  His  whole  behavior  was  that  of  a  man  beside 
himself,  and  actuated  by  some  inscrutable  motive  to  some  inscrutable 
purpose.  Of  these  he  said  nothing  to  his  officers,  but  peremptorily 
disclaiming  the  capitulation,  gave  orders  that  all  things  should  be  pre- 
pared for  a  renewal  of  hostilities  the  next  morning.  Nothing  more 
was  known  but  that  he  had  summoned  to  his  quarters  a  favorite  Bergeant 
of  his  own  regiment,  who  had  been  left  sick  in  oampwhea  he  marched 

las.     This  sergeant  and  four  soldiers,  as  it  seemed  from 
the  morning  report,  had  disappeared  in  the  night. 

Major  Wood  assun  d  us,  that  all  that  had  been  since  done  had  taken 
under  the  immediate  orders  and  superintendence  of  Colonel  Tre- 
vor, and  in  spite  of  his  own  most  earnest  remonstrances.  In  proof  of 
his  sincerity,  he  appealed  to  the  fact  of  his  unconditional  surrender  the 
moment  he  was  apprised  of  the  fall  pf  the  Colonel.  With  all  this  I 
was  perfectly  satisfied, and  gladly  returned  him  his  sword,  with  apr. 
acknowledgment  of  his  gentlemanly  conduct. 

'•An!    now,    Major,"    said   Sehwartz,  "  there   is   another   matter  wo 
want  to  talk  to  yen  about.      Do  you  know  any  thing  of  OUT  Captain  ?" 

"Of  Captain; Douglas?"  said  the  .Major.     "  Certainly  not     But  I 

hope  I  may  now  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him." 

'•  I k  here,  Major,"  said  Witt,  whose  eye  still  glared  with   ferocity 

not  at  all  abated  by  the  fall  of  Trevor ;  "  that  a'nt  the  thing;  and  we 
want  a, straight  answer.  Captain  Douglas  is  missing*  and  wc  want  to 
know  what's  become  of  him." 

"Mi  :id  the  Major,  with  unfeigned  amazement.     "  I  assure 

you;  upon  my  honor,  I  know  nothing  of  him." 


THE   PARTISAN    LEADER.  205 

"  Is  there  any  body  here  that  knows,  or  is  likely  to  know  ?"  said 
Schwartz. 

"  None  that  I  can  imagine,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Is  there  not  a  Captain  here,"  asked  Schwartz  ;  "  a  red-headed  fel- 
low, that  commands  the  company  at  Farmvillc  ?*' 

«  Captain  Cottle  ?     Yes." 

"  Well,  I  want  to  see  him." 

He  was  immediately  summoned,  and  presently  made  his  reluctant 
appearance.     His  alarm  increased  on  seeing  Schwartz  and  Witt. 

11  See  here,  Mister,"  said  the  former  ;  "  here  is  a  piece  of  villainy 
that  we  want  to  know  about;  and  there  is  nobody,  I  reckon,  so  apt  to 
tell  us  as  you." 

"  Indeed,  sir/'  said  Cottle,  "  I  declare,  sir,  I  don't  know  a  word 
about  it." 

"  You  don't,  eh  !"  said  Schwartz.  "  Well,  any  how,  you  arc  mighty 
quick  to  find  out  that  you  don't  know  ;  that  I  must  say  for  you." 

"  Did  you  ever  see  me  before  ?"  said  Witt,  fixing  his  terrible  eye  on 
the  alarmed  Captain.  "  Did  you  ever  see  mc  before?"  repeated  he. 
u  Do  you  remember  where  it  was  ?  Do  you  remember  your  business 
there ;  and  did  you  ever  hear  of  such  a  thing  as  a  man  being  hung  for 
a  spy  ?" 

The  collapse  of  deadly  terror  came  over  Cottle  at  these  dreadful 
words.  His  face,  already  pale,  became  livid  ;  hisoyc  no  longer  blench- 
ed under  the  fearful  glance  of  Witt ;  but  the  lids  opened  as  if  by  mu- 
tual repulsion,  while  his  lip  and  under  jaw  fell  powerless.  He  was 
roused  from  this  state  by  Schwarlz,  who  asked  him*  what  had  become  of 
Captain  Douglas. 

He  was  now  effectually  scared  out  of  all  thought  of  concealment, 
and  answered  without  prevarication  that  Captain  Douglas  had  been  sur- 
prised, during  the  night,  by  the  order  of  Col.  Trevor,  and  sent  away 
immediately  under  the  guard  of  a  sergeant  and  four  men,  across  tht 
river.  He  could  not  say,  certainly,  where  he  was  gone-  but  he  sus- 
pected to  Washington,  as  Col.  Trevor  appeared  to  have  been  writing 
busily  all  the  time  the  party  were  engaged  in  the  capture  of  Douglas. 
It  was  vain  to  attempt  concealing  that  he  had  a  hand  in  this,  though 
the  disclosure  was  made  with  great  r<  luctance.  It  appeared,  mo 
•that  he  had  been  anxious  to  acoompany  the  prisoner,  Mtpposing  him  to 
be  ordered  for  Washington  ;  but  Col.  Trevor  had  refu  1  him. 

Tndeed,  he  *  nl  noi  e  but  those  who  had  not  been  engaged  in  the  action 
at  the  ford,  and  was  certainly  right  not  to  trust  the  vain  bal 

irrulity  could  hardly  have  failed   to  rnb  off  any  might 

have  thought  fit  to  spread  over  the  affair. 


THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

■•  How  did  they  get  across  the  river  ':"  asked  Schwartz.  "  We  havi 
a  strong  guard  on  the  other  side,  and  they  had  orders  to  keep  ■  Btriot 
watch." 

"  Col.  Trevor  told  the  sergeant,"  replied  Cottle,  ''just  to  float  quietly 
down  the  river  and  land  away  below  ;  and  a  handkerchief  was  tied 
over  the  Captain's  mouth  to  keep  him  from  making  a  noise,  and  if  he 
did,  they  were  ordered  to  Bhoot  him." 

I  have  no  words  to  express  the  horror  with  which  I  heard  this  last 
circumstance.  I,  trusted,  and  indeed  Major  Wood  wemed  to  be  of  that 
opinion,  that  Col.  Trevor  had  really  been  beside  himself;  but  regarding 
his  conduct  even  as  the  effect  of  frenzy,  it  was  hardly  less  shocking. 
From  Schwartz  the  communication  only  called  forth  some  pithy  expres- 
sions of  detestation,  without  seeming  to  interrupt  the  working  of  hLs 
thoughts,  which  were  at  once  busy  to  devise  some  remedy  for  the  evil. 

Witt  was  differently  affected.  His  whole  frame  aud  countenance 
ncd  an  appearance  of  stony  rigidity,  betokening  fixed  and  fearful 
purpose,  lie  turned  his  glaring  eye  to  the  spot  where  Col.  Trevor hed 
fallen,  with  an  expression  that  showed  his  vengeance  quite  unsatisfied. 
A  glance  of  fierce  scorn  fell  for  a  moment  on  Cottle;  and  then,  with  a 
searching  look,  he  addressed  himself  to  Major  Wood. 

Major  Wood,"  said  he,  with  a  voice  whose  deep,  stern  tones,  de- 
manded the  truth  and  the  whole  truth,  "  did  you  know  any  thing  of 
this  busii' 

"  Cpon  my  honor,  I  did  not;  and  Captain  Cottle,  who  did  know,  will 
tell  you  so." 

"  I  would  hardly  take  Jlis  word  against  himsrlf"  said  Witt,  with  cold 
contempt,  and  not  even  turning  his  eye  on  Cottle.  Then  pausing  a 
mom<  i,t,  he  added,  with  the  same  look  of  severe  scrutiny,  "  Major 
Wood,  do  you  know  who  Captain  Douglas  is?  Do  you  know  that  he 
is  Col.  Trevor's  own  brother  ?" 

"Gveat  God  !"  exclaimed  the  Major.  "  Douglas  Trevor!  That  fine, 
intelligent,  accomplished,  noble  young  man  ! — ',' 

••  Did  you  know  him  ?"  asked  the  other. 

•  I  did,"  said  Wood,  "  and  loved  him  well.  Poor  fellow  !  Poor  fel- 
low !      His  doom  is  sealed." 

"  That's  enough/'  said  Witt.  "  T  see  now  that  you  had  no  hand  in 
it.  But  is  it  not  your  duty,  Major  Wood,  to  bring  back  Captain  Doug- 
las and  set  him  at  liberty?" 

"Would  to  God  that  1  could,"  said  the  Major;  "but  he  is  quite  Ijc- 
vond  my  reach  before  this." 

here,  Major,"  said  Schwartz  ;  "  write  an  order  to  that  sergeant 
to  bring  him  back,  and  give  me  a  pass  to  follow  him  without  being 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  207 

stopped,  and  I  will  have  him  back  in  no  time.  Them  fellows  lost 
ground  here  crossing  the  river,  and  I  can  catch  them." 

"  That  might  do,"  said  the  Major,  hesitatingly;  "and  I  am  bound 
in  honor  to  do  it,  because  his  capture  was  a  breach  of  my  truce.  But 
I  shall  never  be  forgiven.  No  matter;  it  shall  be  done  if* they  break 
me  for  it."" 

"  You  may  thank  the  Major,"  said  Witt,  turning  his  implacable  eye 
on  Cottle,  "  for  that  word ;  for  it  has  given  you  a  chance  for  your  life. 
But  for  that,  you  would  have  been  hanging  like  a  dog  in  half  an  hour. 
Now,  Major,  I  don't  want  you  to  come  to  any  harm  ;  and  so  you  shall 
have  a  fair  excuse.  Bring  Captain  Douglas  back  to  us,  and  we  will  let 
this  fellow  go.  But  if  the  Captain  is  not  here  before  the  week  is  out, 
then,  as  sure  as  there  is  a  God  in  Heaven,  he  shall  be  hanged  for  a  spy, 
as  he  is." 

There  is  a  difference  between  the  certainty  of  being  hanged  in  half 
an  hour,  and  a  chance  of  escape,  however  unpromising.  To  Captain 
Cottle,  who  had  not  ventured  nearer  to  Jones's  Ford  than  the  rear  of 
the  dragoons,  and  who  was  now  in  greater  peril  than  he  had  ever  wil- 
lingly encountered,  the  difference  was  of  great  importance.  Yet  his 
hopes  were  faint,  for  he  had  heard  the  orders  of  Trevor,  which  enjoined 
despatch ;  and  he  was  equally  earnest  in  hurrying  the  Major  and 
Schwartz.  His  impertinence  was  cut  short  by  ordering  him  to  close 
custody  in  jail ;  and  the  credentials  of  Schwartz  being  soon  prepared, 
he  set  out  on  his  journey. 


208  THE    PARTI  'BR. 


CHATTER   XL. 

Thnt  lies  like  truth,  and  yet  most  truly  In  - 

U  again  intrude  into  the  sanctuary  of  The  President 

is  alone,  as  before.  He  has  the  saiue  air  of  somewhat  impatient  ex- 
pectation. A  shade  of  anxious  thought  is  on  his  brow,  and  his  cheek 
bed  with  some  little  excitement.  Vet  these  elements  are  all  so 
,  as  to  he  scarcely  perceptible ;  and  were  he  conscious  that  we  arc 
looking  at  him,  they  would  be  completely  concealed.  On  the  table  lie 
a  number  of  letters  recently  received.  Two  of  them  are  separated 
from  the  rest.  He  takes  up  one  and  reads  it  a  second  time.  Let  us 
look  over  him.     It  runs  thus  : 

'•'The  wisest  may  be  deceived;  the  most  vigilant  may  be  betrayed  : 
for  the  most  trusted  are  often  the  most  treacherous.  CaI  th-n." 

'•  What  means  this  ?"  said  the  President,  musingly.  "  Who  is  it  that 
[  am  wanted  against  ?  The  word  'most'  is  underscored.  Who  does 
that  point  at?  Whom  do  I  tru-t  most  t  I  trust  nobody.  But  I  seem 
to  trust;  and  whom  most*  Surely,  it  cannot  be  he.  I  should,  in- 
de<  d,  be.  wrong  to  trust  to  hig  fidelity.  Put  he  is  too  wise  to  be  false 
to  li is  own  interest.  Put  may  he  not  have  an  interest  that  I  am  not 
aware  of?     It  must  be  considered." 

1 1  ■•  then  took  up  the  other  letter,  which  I  beg  leave  to  lay  before  the 
,  as  a  specimen  of  the  art  with  which  the  truth  may  be  so  told  as 
to  make  others  believe  what  is  false.  I  recommend  it  particularly  to 
military  gentlemen,  reporting  the  results  of  a  battle. 

Headquarters,  Camp  near    Lynchburg,  \ 
November  12,  1849.      J 
Siu  :  I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  your  Excellency  an  account  of 
|  'rations  of  the  troops  under  my  command,  since  the  date  of  my 
last  despatch. 

iu  pursuance  of  the  information  I  had  received,  of  which  your  Ex- 
cellency has  been  already  advised,  I  marched  on  the  3d  instant,  at  the 
head  of  my  own  regiment,  one  battalion  of  the  15th,  a  company  of  ar- 
tillery and  of  dragoons,  to  meet  Douglas"  on  .his  descent  from  the 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  209 

mountains.  At  Jones's  Ford,  on  Staunton  river,  I  encountered  him, 
when  about  half  his  force  had  crossed  over.  I  attacked  him  immedi- 
ately, and,  after  a  sharp  conflict,  drove  him  across  the  river.  By  the 
advice  of  Col.  Mason,  I  left  the  artillery  and  dragoons  on  the  north 
bank,  to  protect  our  rear,  placing  them  under  the  command  of  that 
distinguished  officer. 

Pressing  hard  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  we  came  up  with  him 
just  as  he  had  fallen  back  on  the  reserve.  Here  he  rallied,  and  the 
fight  was  renewed.  I  regret  to  say  that,  at  the  first  fire,  my  horse  fell 
under  me,  imprisoning  my  leg  by  his  fall.  At  the  same  moment  a 
ball  struck  my  head,  and  I  came  to  tho  ground  insensible. 

You  will  judge  of  my  astonishment,  when,  on  recovering  my  senses, 
I  found  that  all  my  men  near  me  had  thrown  down  their  arms,  and 
that  I  was  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who  assisted  me  tp  rise.  I  im- 
mediately called  to  my  men  to  resume  their  arms,  but  am  sorry  to  in- 
form you  that  I  was  not  obeyed.  As  I  had  not  surrendered,  I  was 
seized  and  hurried  away  to  the  house  of  a  ringleader  of  these  rebels, 
where  I  was  confined.  From  that  time  I  had  no  means  of  receiving 
any  information  on  which  I  could  rely  concerning  the  events  of  the 
day,  as  I  had  no  intercourse  with  any  but  the  rebels. 

Two  days  ago  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  make  my  escape.  Returning 
to  this  place,  I  find  my  camp,  which  had  been  left  under  the  command 
of  Major  Wood,  beleaguered  by  the  rebels,  and  a  treaty  for  surrender 
in  full  progress.  I  rejoice  that  I  have  returned  in  time  to  prevent  a 
consummation  so  disgraceful. 

It  is  now  midnight,  and  a  small  party  has  been  sent  out  to  endeavor 
to  surprise  the  leader  of  this  banditti.  In  the  meantime  all  things  are 
put  in  readiness  for  a  sortie  in  the  morning.  I  shall  not  close  my  let- 
ter until  I  can  give  some  farther  account  of  the  success  of  these  ope- 
rations. 

Two  o'clock,  A.  M — My  scouts  have  come  in,  and  brought  in  the 
hostile  chief,  who  proves  to  be  the  last  man  in  the  world  whom  I  could 
have  wished  to  find  in  arms  against  the  generous  master  who  so  well 
deserved  his  grateful  devotion.  I  speak  of  that  unfortunate  youth, 
whose  fault,  (I  must  not  use  a  harsher  term,)  nearly  twelve  months  I 
dishonored  our  common  name  and  parent  Y  >ur  Excellency  will 

appreciate  the  struggle  in  my  bosom  between  a  sense  of  duty  and  the 
foolish  but  Inextinguishable  relcntings  of  nature.  I  ha've  dctermiqed 
to  put  an  end  to  this  painful  strife,  and  to  take  security  against  my  own 
weakness,  by*  sending  him  on  immcdiat<  1\  to  you,  Without  awaiting  the 
result  of  the  meditated  sortie  in  the  morning.  He  therefore  travels  in 
14 


210  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

custody  of  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  under  guard  of  a  sergeant  and 
four  men. 

Having  returned  to  the  camp  this  night,  after  tattoo,  I  am  unpre- 
pared to  give  any  account  of  our  loss,  or  that  of  the  enemy.  I  have 
nothing  authentic  but  the  lamented  death  of  CoL  Mason,  who  fell 
fighting  bravely. 

I  beg  leave  to  express  an  humble  hope  that  your  Excellency  will  be 
pleased  to  attribute  the  partial  failure  of  my  enterprise  to  the  unfortu- 
nate wound  which  put  me  hors  du  combat,  at  a  moment,  up  to  which 
we  had  successfully  driven  the  enemy  before  us  for  nearly  half  a  mile 
and  across  the  river. 

I  remain,  sir,  with  the  most  profound  respect,  your  Excellency's 
most  humble  and  faithful  servant, 

Owen  Trev»r,  Col.  18th  Inf. 
"  A  worthy  gentleman,"  said  the  President,  folding  up  the  letter. 
"  A  most  worthy  gentleman  !  Let  any  man  doubt  henceforth,  if  he 
can,  that  the  only  way  to  judge  in  advance  of  what  a  man  will  do,  is 
to  ascertain  his  interest.  See  how  readily  it  settled  this  nice  point  of 
casuistry — this  delicate  question  of  conflicting  duties  Trust !  Yes,  I 
will  trust;  but  not  as  fools  do.  I  will  trust  no  man's  honor,  but  every 
man's  interest.  The  experience  of  my  whole  life  has  taught  the  les- 
son, and  every  day  confirms  it.  Here  comes  a  new  example,"  added 
he,  as  the  door-bell  sounded,  and  was  echoed  by  the  single  stroke  in 
the  room. 

The  door  opened,  and  the-  honorable  Mr.  Baker  appeared.  His 
figure  had  lost  nothing  of  its  deferential  bend ;  his  step  nothing  of  its 
creeping,  cautious  tread;  his  countenance  nothing  of  its  abject  ser- 
vility. But  there  was  more  of  anxiety  and  less  of  hope,  with  a  slight 
appearance  of  peevish  dissatisfaction. 

"  You  are  very  good,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the  President.  "  You  arc 
lways  almost  present  to  my  wish.  Government  would  be  an  easy  task, 
ere  all  officers  like  you." 

"I  humbly  thank  your  Excellency,"  replied  the  Judge.  "Were 
not  your  approbation  precious  to  me,  I  might  be  tempted,  perhaps,  to 
look  more  than  I  ought  to  public  opinion.  Perhaps  I  do  so,  as  it  is; 
for  though  my  duties  are  clearly  necessary  to  the  good  of  the  State, 
I  find  it  hard  to  bear  the  loud  reproaches  of  a  misjudging  multitude, 
that  reach  me  through  a  factious  press." 

11  Let  it  not  Teach  you,' my  dear  sir.  The  storm  does  but  rage  with- 
out. Why  need  you  hear  it  when  it  touches  you  not?  Shut  your  ears 
and  sleep  soundly;  or  open  them  only  to  the  more  pleasant  tones  that 
issue  from  loyal  lips.     I  take  care  not  to  know  what  is  said  of  me  by 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  211 

malcontent  scribblers ;  but  I  hardly  flatter  myself  that  I  should  pre- 
serve my  equanimity  if  I  read  all  that  is  written." 

"It  is  sometimes  impossible  not  to  hear,"  said  the  Judge;  "and 
there  are  words  which  convey  reproach,  which,  though  uttered  in  a 
single  breath,  reach  the  heart.  I  can  never,  I  fear,  make  myself  proof 
against  'such  a  phrase  as  'judicial  murder." 

"  But  you  must  find  consolation  in  your  own  enlightcd  conscience, 
my  dear  sir.     Some  feeling  must  be  expected  when  the  edge  of  the    . 
law  falls  on  victims  whose  offences   demand   punishment,  and  yet  are 
such  as  those  the  world  calls  honorable  and  upright  are  most  likely  to 
commit." 

"  The  misfortune  is,"  replied  the  other,  "  that  it  is  only  for  such  of- 
fences, and  on  such  victims,  that  my  office  seems  to  be  made  to  act ; 
and  when  the  curse  rises  up  against  me,  loud  as  well  as  deep,  and  ut- 
tered and  echoed  on  every  side,  I  pray  your  Excellency  to  pardon  me 
when  I  say  that  I  find  its  honors  and  emoluments  a  poor  compensa- 
tion." 

"  It  will  be  some  relief  to  you,  then,"  replied  the  President,  "  that 
you  are  like  to  have  a  subject  of  a  different  sort  to  act  upon.     One   ■ 
whose  crimes  offend  against  the  laws  of  God  as  well  as  man ;  and  who 
is  not  more  obnoxious  to  State  policy  than  to  tbe  detestation  of  all  good 
men,  and  of  none  more  than  yourself." 

"  Of  whom  is  your  Excellency  pleased  to  speak  V*  asked  Mr.  Baker. 
"  Of  no  other  than  that  young  fellow,  Trevor,  whose  ill  luck  snatched 
him  away  from  our  hands,  when  perhaps  he  was  not  quite  ripe  for 
punishment.  But  he  has  since  made  himself  perfect  in  crime,  by  be- 
coming the  leader  of  a  desperate  banditti.  In  short,  he  is  no  other 
than  the  famous  Captain  Douglas,  and  is  now  in  my  power.  I  think 
you  will  find  in  his  case  a  fair  set-off  against  some  of  the  mortifications 
of  which  you  complain  ;  and  think  no  more  of  denying  your  service? 
to  the  public,  at  least  until  he  has  fulfilled  his  destiny." 

The  effect  of  this  communication  on  the  mind  of  the  honorable 
gentleman  was  such  as  the  President  had  anticipated.  To  every  bejng 
of  the  name  of  Trevor  he  bore  a  mortal  antipathy.  Jn  the  case  of 
Douglas,  this  was  rendered  more  intense  by  the  sympathy  of  a  father 
with  a  favorite  son.  An  envious  malignity  was  a  striking  feature  in 
the  characters  both  of  father  and  son  ;  and  this  had  bc.cn  provoked  to 
the  utmost  by  that  unfortunate  young  man.  Beth  were  Bensible  thai 
the  younger  Baker  had  been  in  bad  » »<]. »r  with  the  public  ever  sinc<; 
tlic  affair  at  the  falls;  and  hence,  it  was  not  only  grateful  to  theil 
malice,  but  to  their  pride,  to  fasten  on  Douglas  a  stigma  bo  d 
blc   as   to  have  "relation  back,  and   to  excuse  his  adversary  with  tl 


212  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

who  did  not  know  all  the  circumstances,  for  not  seeking  such  redress 
U  [/■  utlcmm  demand  Of  <j<  ntk  tin  it  only. 

The  good  humor  of  the  Judge  was  now  manifestly  restored,  and  the 
President  went  on  to  give  him  some  particulars  of  the  late  military  oc- 
currences. Dougla*,  he  said,  was  on  the  road,  and  would  reach  Wash- 
ington the  next  day.  The  letter,  it  seems,  had  been  brought  by  a  sol- 
dier who  had  orders  to  outgo  the  rest  of  the  party,  and  ride  express  to 
Washington. 

"  It  is  well,"  said  the  President,  "  that  I  have  this  timely  intimation 
of  his  approach.  The  custody  of  State  prisoners  cannot  be  safely  en- 
trusted to  any  but  the  military;  and  that  of  this  young  man  must  be 
committed  to  no  corps  in  which  he  had  any  acquaintance.  It  seems 
that  he  was  a  universal  favorite  among  men  and  officers.  I  am  about 
to  take  measures  to  guard  against  any  such  blunder." 

In  such  conversation  half  an  hour  was  passed,  when  the  Minister 
made  his  appearance.  He  had  been  sent  for,  and  to  him  the  President 
communicated  the  history  of  the  capture  of  Douglas.  Had  he  turned 
an  eye  of  close  scrutiny  on  the  favorite,  at  the  moment  when  he  ut- 
tered the  name,  and  announced  the  fate  of  his  victim,  he  might  have 
seen  a  slight  expression  of  countenance  which  it  would  not  have  been 
easy  to  interpret.  But  this  escaped  him  ;  and  he  went  on  to  direct 
that  the  true  name  of  the  prisoner  should  be  kept  secret;  tha.t  his  ar- 
rival sbonJd  l,c  watched  lor;  and  that  he  should  be  at  once  conducted 
to  a  place  provided  for  the  sep :irate  confinement  of  State  prisoners. 
It  was,  moreover,  ordered  that  a  detail  of  officers  and  men  for  that 
prison  should  be  carefully  made,  so  as  to  exclude  any  persons  whose 
loyalty  was  at  all  doubtful;  and  especially  all  who,  from  former  associa- 
tions, could  be  rappeeed  to  feel  any  kindness  for  Douglas. 

Finally,  it  was  agreed  that,  should  he  arrive  iu  the  course  of  that 
night,  or  the  next  day,  he  should  be  brought,  on  the  following  nij;ht, 
before  the  triumvirate,  in  the  room  where  they  then  were. 

"  You  were  right,"  continued  the  President,  addressing  his  Minister, 
"  when  you  said  that  this  young  man  had  talent.  The  discovery  of  his 
identity  explains  the  marvellous  organization  and  efficiency  of  that 
wild  banditti  that  he  commanded.  II is  rapture  must  be  fatal  to  their 
future  success.  They  must  be  powerless  now  that  they  have  lost  their 
leader,  and  must  soon  disband.  That  is  well.  The  two  regiments  may 
now  be  marched  from  Lynchburg  to  Richmond,  and  save  us  the  neces- 
sity of  sending  a  reinforcement  from  .this  quarter.  The  troops  there, 
with  this  aid,  will  certainly  be  sufficient  to  check  the  insurrectionary 
movements  that  we  hear  of  in  the  southern  counties,  and  to  cover  the 
meeting  of  the  Legislature.     Col.  Trevor  has  certainjy  deserved  well. 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  213 

I  am  afraid  his  unfortunate  wound  may  have  occasioned  the  loss  of 
more  men  than  we  could  well  spare,  who  seem  to  have  surrendered 
while  he  was  insensible.  But  the  disabling  of  Douglas's  corps  will,  of 
course,  set  them  at  liberty  to  return  to  their  duty.  But  this  takes  noth- 
ing from  Col.  Trevor's  merit.  He  must  be  brevetted.  As  to  Major 
Wood,  in  the  regular  course  he  should  succeed  Mason ;  but  I  must 
hear  more  of  this  negotiation  for  a  surrender  of  his  post,  before  he  is 
promoted.  That  affair  must  be  satisfactorily  explained,  or  he  will 
hardly  escape  a  court-martial." 

The  President  now  went  on  to  give  some  farther  orders,  and  then  dis- 
missed his  guests. 


214  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


CHAPTER    LXI. 

Treason  can  never  take  a  form  so  hideous, 
But  it  will  find  a  glass,  that  *hall  reflect 
A  comely  semblance,  on  which  self  may  look 
With  a  complacent  .-mile. 

Om  his  departure  from  Lynchburg,  Schwartz  had  been  provided 
with  a  suit  of  clothes  half  military,  to  prevent  the  notice  •which  his 
rude  mountain  attire  would  have  attracted.  The  day  was  half  spent 
before  he  was  on  the  road,  and  the  sergeant  and  his  party  were  already 
far  in  advance  of  him. 

Col.  Trevor  had  been  desirous,  for  obvious  reasons,  that  his  letter 
and  prisoner  should  reach  Washington  as  soon  as  possible,  and  had  or- 
dered the  party  to  proceed  with  all  practicable  despatch.  But,  as  they 
might  be  somewhat  retarded  by  the  necessary  care  of  their  prisoner, 
he  had  directed  that  the  letter  should  be  sent  on,  as  we  have  seen,  by  a 
single  soldier,  who  had  reached  Washington  on  the  second  night  But 
the  sergeant  was  not  far  behind,  and  had  used  such  diligence  that  he 
crossed  the  bridge  the  next  morning  at  an  early  hour,  just  as  poor 
Schwartz  came  in  sight. 

He  recognized  the  party  by  the  peculiar  dress  of  Douglas,  with 
which  he  was  so  familiar;  but  it  was  too  late.  He  followed,  however, 
disconcerted  by  his  failure,  but  not  desponding.  At  the  farther  end  of 
the  bridge  he  was  struck  with  the  countenance  and  manner  of  a  fine 
looking  young  man,  of  genteel  but  plain  appearance,  who  stood  gazing 
earnestly  after  the  prisoner  and  his  guard. 

Observing  Schwartz,  he  asked  eagerly  who  the  prisoner  was,  and 
was  told  it  was  Captain  Douglas. 

"Good  God  I"  exclaimed  he,  in  a  tone  of  deep  concern;  "is  itpos- 
aible  ?     But  thank  God  !  it  is  no  worse." 

"  Did  you  think  it  was  anybody  you  knew  ?"  asked  the  quick-witted 
Schwartz. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  other.  "  I  was  almost  sure  it  was  a  friend  of  my 
own." 

"  And  what  was  your  friend's  name,  stranger?  if  I  may  be'so  bold." 

"  You  are  bold  enough,"  said  the  youth.  "  I  am  not  in  the  habit 
<jf  answering  questions  unless  I  know  who  asks  them,  and  why." 

"  I  don't  mean  no  harm,  young  man,"  replied  Schwartz ;  "  and  if 


THE   PARTISAN   LEADER.  215 

you  tell  me  your  friend's  name  and  your  own  too,  may  be  you  won't  be 
sorry  for  it." 

The  stranger  looked  hard  at  Schwartz,  and  in  his  serious,  earnest, 
and  sagacious  countenance,  saw  enough  to  make  him  curious  to  know 
what  this  meant.  He  therefore  replied  that  his  friend  was  Lieutenant 
Trevor,  late  of  the  United  States  Dragoons. 

"Then  I  have  a  notion,"  replied  Schwartz,  "that  your  name  is 
Whiting." 

"My  name  is  Whiting,"  replied  the  other,  in  great  surprise ;  "  but 
how  should  you  know  it  ?"  # 

"  I  have  heard  the  Captain  talk  about  you  many  a  time." 

"  The  Captain  !     What  Captain  ?" 

"  IJim,"  replied  Schwartz,  pointing  toward  the  distant  party. 

"  Him  !     And  how  was  he  to  know  anything  about  me  ?" 

u  Just  because  he  is  the  very  man  you  thought  he  was." 

"Douglas!"  exclaimed  Whiting.  "Trevor!  Douglas  Trevor !  Good 
God,  what  an  ass  I  have  been  !  0  Trevor,  my  friend  !  how  earnestly 
have  I  wished  to  know  where  to  find  you !  Had  I  been  with  you,  this 
might  have  been  prevented." 

.  "May  be  it  is  best  as  it  is,"  said  Schwartz.  "The  Captain  did  not 
want  for  friends  where  he  was.  May  be  one  friend  here  will  do  him 
more  good  than  a  hundred  anywhere  else.  That  is  what  I  am  here  for 
now." 

"  You  ire  a  friend  to  Trevor,  then,"  replied  Whiting ;  "  perhaps  one 
of  his  followers." 

"You  may  say  that,"  said  Schwartz.     "Anyhow,  I'm  his  friend." 

"  Then  come  with  me  to  my  lodgings.  You  can  tell  me  everything, 
and  wc  will  see  what  is  to  be  done.  Trevor  has  friends  enough  here. 
Thank  God !  I  saw  him.  But  for  that  we  might  not  have  found  out 
who  he  was  till  it  was  too  late." 

Whiting  now  showed  Schwartz  where  to  bestow  his  horse,  and  after- 
wards'conducted  him  to  his  lodgings.  These  were  in  an  obscure  sub- 
urb, humble,  plain,  and  poorly  fitted  up.  Appearances  showed  that 
the  occupant  spent  most  of  his  time  with  the  pen,  although  many  of 
the  relics  of  his  former  military  equipments  were  to  be  seen  about  the 
room.  But  the  dust  on  his  cap,  which  hung  against  the  wall,  and  the 
mould  on  the  belt  and  scabbard  of  his  sword,  showed  that  these  had 
been  long  unused.  In  truth,  the  escape  of  Douglas  and  his  uncle  had 
been  fatal  to  him  as  a  soldier.  He  had  been  dismissed  the  army;  and 
now,  as  it  seemed,  earned  a  poor  livelihood  by  doing  for  small  wagefl 
the  manual  labor  of  those  offices,  the  salaries  of  which  arc  received  by 
men  who  do  nothing  at  all. 


216  THE   PARTISAN   LEADER. 

During  their  long  •walk  through  the  streets  of  that  city  "so  magnifi- 
cent in  distances,"  as  Monsieur  Serruricr  said  of  it,  and  while  a  hasty 
breakfast  was  preparing  for  Schwartz,  he  gave  Whiting  the  particulars 
of  the  late  battle  at  Jones's  Ford ;  of  Douglas's  capture,  and  of  hia 
brother's  death,  and  the  surrender  of  the  camp.  As  soon  as  he  had 
seen  his  guest  provided  for,  the  young  man  left  him  alone.  Going  out, 
he  proceeded  to  the  first  stand  of  coaches,  and  stepping  into  one  was 
driven  to  the  Minister's.  Here  he  alighted,  showed  a  ticket  to  the 
porter,  entered,  threaded  several  passages,  descended  a  dark  stair,  and, 
going  into  a  small  room  in  the  basement,  touched  the  spring  of  a  bell. 
No  answering  sound  was  heard ;  but,  in  half  an  hour  the  Minister  ap- 
peared. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  said  he.  n  Have  you  hoard  that  your  friend 
Trevor  is  in  the  power  of  his  enemies,  and  is  expected  here  to-day  ?" 

"  I  had  not  heard  it,"  said  Whiting;  "  but  I  have  seen  him.  He  is 
here." 

"  Indeed !     That  is  well.     We  have  the  more  time." 

"  Where  will  he  be  lodged,  and  under  what  custody  ?" 

"  In  the  state  prison.  I  am  instructed  to  select  his  guards  from 
among  those  who  are  strangers  to  his  person,  and  well-affected  to  the 
Government." 

"  That  will  be  no  easy  task,  as  it  seems  that  all  the  troops  of  that 
description  have  been  marched  into  Virginia,  and  that,  except  raw  re- 
cruits, there  are  none  here  that  it  was  thought  safe  to  trust  on  that 
service." 

"That  is  true,"  said  the  Minister;  "and  therefore  I  must  select 
those  same  raw  recruits.  Think  you  there  are  many  here  who  could  be 
relied  on  to  peril  every  thing  on  behalf  of  your  friend  ?" 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  I  was  long  enough  in  the  army  after  his  disgrace 
to  know  that  his  whole  regiment  were  indignant  at  it.  A  hundred  can 
be  found  ready  to  wipe  it  out  with  the  blood  of  the  President,  or  their 
own." 

"  It  is  well.  He  will  b'e  taken  to  the  palace  this  night,  wider  the 
cloud  of  darkness.  Have  all  things  in  readiness,  and  watch  for  hi» 
return.  You  will  know  what  to  do.  Did  you  know  those  who  had  him 
in  custody?" 

"  I  knew  the  sergeant,  and  he  knew  roe." 

"  All  right.  You  then  must  be  charged  with  the  disappearance  of 
Douglas;  you  must  therefore  make  your  escape  with  him.  I  shall,  of 
course,  see  you  no  more.  We  have  no  time  for  compliment ;  but  you 
will  have  my  best  wishes;  and  the  time  may  come  when  you  may  have 
it  in  your  power  to  do  me  justice.  '  My  country  is  to  me,  Mr.  Whiting, 


THE  PARTISAN  LEADER.  217 

what  yours  is  to  you.  When  New  England  was  permitted  to  join  in 
what  you  will  call  the  plunder  of  the  South,  I  was  not  very  scrupulous 
about  the  means  of  securing  her  share.  But  nearly  all  that  was  worth 
having  is  irretrievably  lost.  What  remains  can  only  be  retained  by 
means  which  will  but  make  it  an  instrument  of  power  in  the  hands  of 
this  man,  and  so  enable  him  to  perpetuate  his  reign  according  to  the 
forms  of  the  constitution.  Take  that  away,  and  leave  the  matter  alto- 
gether to  the  votes  of  the  northern  States,  and  I  shall  not  long  have  to 
play  second  to  him.  In  order  to  preserve  his  power,  he  would  be  com- 
pelled to  break  up  the  system  of  monopoly  contrived  for  the  exclusive 
benefit  of  his  favorite  Empire  State ;  or  perhaps  to  concur  with  me  in 
severing  a  Union,  the  benefits  of  which  are  now  lost,  by  the  escape  of 
our  common  prey,  and  of  which  we  bear  all  the  inconveniences.  Of 
course,  I  do  not  pretend  that  the  place  to  which  the  favor  of  my 
countrymen  may  advance  me  in  either  event,  has  no  charms  for  me. 
But  you  will  see  that  I  am  actuated  by  no  low  and  sordid  ambition.  I 
am  desirous  you  should  see  it  in  this  light.  It  is  not  my  fortune  to 
command  the  services  of  many  whose  esteem  is  eminently  desirable.  I 
am,  therefore,  the  more  ambitious  of  yours.  Should  I  succeed,  my 
acts  will  vindicate  my  motives.  Should  I  fail,  (and  if  Virginia  disen- 
thrals herself  I  shall  not  fail,)  you  will  do  me  this  justice.  What 
news  have  you  of  the  movements  of  B —  ?" 

"  He  is  about  to  take  up  arms,  with  the  probability  of  assembling  a 
force  which,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  corps  of  Douglas,  will  secure 
his  object." 

"  But  is  not  the  band  of  Douglas  dispersed  ?" 

"By  no  means;  but  much  increased.  They  have  still  their  moun- 
tain leaders,  and  a  young  man  from  the  South  Carolina  military  school, 
who  seems  well  qualified  to  act,  for  the  time,  as  the  locum  tenens  of  the 
Chief." 

"Then  farewell,  sir,"  said  the  Minister.  "  You  carry  with  you  my 
good  wishes  for  yourself  and  your  cause,  and  I  pray  you  to  commend 
them  to  Mr.  B — " 

About  the  time  that  these  gentlemen  thus  separated,  the  President 
was  informed  that  a  gentleman  and  lady  craved  the  favor  of  a  private 
audience.  He  directed  that  they  should  be  shown  into  the  room,  the 
privacy  of  which  we  have  so  often  violated,  rnd  soon  after  he  entered  it. 

A  lady,  whose  figure  and  dress  denoted  youth,  was  seated  on  the 
sofa.  She  was  in  deep  mourning,  and  a  black  veil  completely  hid  her 
face.  By  her  side  sat  a  gentleman  far  advanced  in  life,  and  of  a  most 
venerable  as"pect.  His  fair  complexion  had  blanched  by  time  into  the 
cold  dead  whiteness  of  age.     The  color  had,  in   like  manner,  faded 


218  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 

from  bifl  pale  blue  eye;  and  the  quivering  of  his  livid  lip,  and  the 
trembling  of  his  eyelids,  betokened  deep  and  anxious  distress  ///> 
dress  also  was  of  black,  mournfully  contrasting  with  the  almost  un- 
earthly whiteness  of  his  face. 

At  the  entrance  of  the  President  both  rose;  and  the  trembling  and 
agitated  old  gentleman  mjght  be  seen  to  give  way  for  a  moment,  as  if 
about  to  throw  himself  on  his  knees  before  "  the  dreaded  prince  whose 
will  was  fate."  But  he  recovered  himself,  and  with  an  air  of  suppliant 
dignity,  stood  as  erect  as  the  weakness  and  infirmity  of  age  permitted. 
The  President  approached  him  with  a  look  of  perplexity  and  doubt; 
and,  gazing  earnestly  at  him,  said  :  "  I  beg  to  know,  sir,  who  it  is. 
Bless  me!  Mr.  Trevor,  is  it  possible  that  I  see  you  here,  at  this 
moment  ?" 

"I  am  here,  sir,"  replied  the  old  gentleman,  "a  broken-hearted,  be- 
reaved father,  lamenting  the  loss  of  one  son,  and  suppliant  for  the  life 
of  another;  and  this  is  my  niece,  who  is  come  to  join  her  prayers  to 
mine,  on  behalf  of  her  betrothed  husband." 

There  was  enough  in  these  words  to  add  to  the  maiden  confusion  of 
poor  Delia,  but  not  enough  to  prevent  her  from  lifting  a  timid  gjanee, 
in  which  there  was  as  much  of  entreaty  as  her  proud  spirit  could  de- 
scend to.  She  met  the  eye  of  the  President,  as  with  an  air  of  quick 
and  eager  surprise  he  turned  towards  her ;  and  in  his  eye  she  read  a 
meaning  which,  in  the  moment,  blasted  her  hopes  and  confirmed  her 
in  all  her  detestation  of  the  cold,  selfish,  and  crafty  politician,  whom 
she  qow  beheld  for  the  first  time.  She  saw,  instantly,  that  she  was  the 
object  of  some  subtle  purpose ;  and  felt,  that  by  putting  herself  in  his 
power,  she  had  but  prepared  for  her  husband  a  deeper  distress  than  all 
the  severities  of  the  law  could  inflict.  But  she  cpuailedwnot  at  the 
thought.  Her  proud  and  bold  spirit  came  in  aid  of  her  weakness;  her 
pale  cheek  burnt  with  an  indignant  glow,  and  the  tears  were  dissipated 
from  her  eyes  in  the  bright  and  almost  fierce  glance  that  flashed  from 
them.  Even  through  her  veil  too  much  of  this  appeared  to  escape  the 
notice  of  the  President. 

lie  instantly  turned  away;  and,  with  an  air  and  tone  of  the  most  can- 
died courtesy,  addressed  Mr.  Trevor:  "You  speak  in  riddles,  my  dear 
sir,"  said  he;  "  I  beg  you  to  explain." 

"  My  task  is  more  painful  than  I  had  anticipated,"  said  the  poor  old 
man.  "  Have  I,  then,  to  be  the  herald  of  my  poor  Owen's  death,  and 
of  the  yet  more  disastrous  fate  of  my  other  noble  boy?" 

"Col.  Trevor  dead,  sir!"  exclaimed  the  President.  "Impossible! 
I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  him,  written  on  the  12th." 

"  That  day  was  the  last  of  his  life,"  said  the  afflicted  father.     "  He 


TIIE   PARTISAN   LEADER.    '  219 

fell  next  morning.  I  received  the  news  yesterday  by  the  railroad ;  and 
by  travelling  all  night  by  the  same  conveyance,  I  am  here  to  entreat 
that  the  axe  may  not  glean  what  the  sword  has  left  me.  My  poor 
boy  Douglas,  I  am  told,  is  in  your  power,  and  perhaps  here." 

"I  had  heard  of  this;  but  I  assure  you  your  son.is  not  here.  I  will 
not  deny  that  I  expect  him;  and  regret  that  it  is  under  circumstances 
which  will  not  allow  mc  the  pleasure  of  extending  to  him  the  same 
courtesy  I  shall  be  happy  to  render  to  you.  Compose  yourself,  my 
dear  sir;  let  me  beg  you  and  your  niece  to  retire  to  rooms  which  are 
always  ready  to  receive  you  where  I  am  master;  and  let  me  send  for 
your  baggage." 

Delia,  who  thought  there  was  something  of  hesitancy  in  her  uncle's 
mind,  instantly  exclaimed:  "No,  my  uncle!  No,  my*  father!  The 
palace  of  a  tyrant  is  a  prison.  There  is  no  mercy  here.  No  hope  for 
my  noble  husband.  Save  yourself.  Return  home  while  you  may,  and 
leave  me  here  to  sbare  his  fate.  Our  friends  may  rescue  us.  They 
WILL  avenge  us.     But  in  that  cold  eye  there  is  no  relenting." 

"You  are  harsh,  lady,"  said  the  President;  "I  will  not  add,  unjust. 
T  will  prove  that,  by  permitting  your  instant  departure,  without  even 
enquiring  where  you  lodge." 

He  now  bowed  them  out,  and  immediately  summoning  a  servant, 
said:  Take  the  number  of  that  coach,  and  let  the  driver  attend  mc 
this  evening  "  Then,  as  the  servant  left  the  room,  he  went  on  :  "Why, 
this  is  better  and  better.  I  think  I  have  holds  enough  now  on  Baker 
to  bind  him  to  his  task,  however  his  heart  may  yearn  after  his  beggarly 
estate  in  Virginia.  It  seems,  forsooth,  that, after  all  that  has  passed, 
his  son  yet  has  a  hankering  after  this  girl;  the  only  woman,  as  he  says, 
(hat  he  ever  truly  loved.  It  may  be  but  spite  against  his  favored 
rival ;  or  it  may  be,  in  truth,  that  every  thing  that  bears  the  shape  of 
man  is  susceptible  of  love,  or  what  passes  for  it.  Be  it  so.  He  may 
be  gratified;  but  his  father  shall  fulfil  conditions." 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  following  letter  was  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  President:  * 

"Your  captive  has  arrived.  Beware  how  you  remand  him  to  his 
prison,  when  you  dismiss  him  to-night.  Order  him  to  be  confined 
within  the  palace ;  and  when  you  give  the  order  mark  well  its  effect 
on  him  you  most  trust.  Caution." 

"Why,  here   is  proof  as  well   as  accusation,"  said   the   President. 
"  Here  u  treason.     How  else  is  it  known  that  Trevor  was  to  be  bn  dghl 
here  to-night  ?     I  will  improve  this  hint.     A  rescue  is  to  be  attain] 
Is  that  it?     Then  the  guard  will  be  attacked  <>n  their  return  without 
the  prisoner.     Wo  to  the  traitor  if  it  prove  so!" 


220  THE    PARTISAN    LEADER. 


Jf;  3fC  !fC  X  3p  , »  3ft  Sp  3|C 

I  have  been  interrupted  in  my  narrative.  I  have  hesitated  whether 
to  give  tli is  fragment  to  the  public,  until  I  have  leisure  to  complete  my 
history.  On  farther  reflection,  I  have  determined  to  do  so.  'Let  it  go 
forth  as  the  first  Jhdlctln  of  that  gallant  contest,  in  which  Virginia 
achieved  her  independence;  lifted  the  soiled  banner  of  her  sover- 
eignty from  the  dust,  and  once  more  vindicated  her  proud  motto,  which 
graces  my  title  page, — sic  semper  tyrannis!  Amkn.  So  mote  it 
be. 


TIIE   END. 


A  BOOK  OF  GREAT  INTEREST. 

THE  FIRST  YEAR  OF  THE  WAR. 

Bv  EDWARD  A.  POLLARD. 

WEST  &  JOHNSTON,  Publishers. 

UNPARALLELED  SUCCESS! 

Two  Thousand  Copies  Disposed  of  During  the  First  Week  of  its 
Publication. 

It  is  a  Southern  Book  by  a  Southern  author! 
It  is  called  for  by  old  and  young,  male  and  female! 
Its  authenticity  cannot  be  doubted,  and  should  be  read  by  all. 
PRICE— TWO  DOLLARS.    By  Mail,  $2  r>0. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  PRESS. 

From  the  Richmond  Dispatch  : 

"Mr.  Pollard  is  already  well  known  to  the  public  as  the  author  of  'Black 
Diamonds,'  etc.  The  present  work  is  written  in  the  peculiarly  animated  and 
racy  style  of  the  author,  and  will  command  an  extensive  sale.  Mr.  P.  has 
enjoyed  unusual  facilities  for  collecting  information,  and  has  made  the  best 
use  of  it.  The  book  is  written  with  candor  and  impartiality,  and  as  far  as  we 
can  judge,  strictly  truthful  and  very  interesting." 

The  Richmond  Examiner  says: 

"It  is  the  most  elaborate  and  valuable  literary  contribution  that  has  yet 
been  made  to  the  interests  of  the  South  ;  that  it  will  not  only  entice,  but  repay. 
the  curiosity  of  all  readers." 

From  the  Richmond  Whig  : 

"  The  well  known  ability  and  diligence  of  Mr.  Pollard  arc  guarantees  of 
the  value  and  merit  of  his  book.  We  anticipate  much  gratification  from  its 
perusal,  which  we  will  notice  at  length.  Messrf.  West  &  Johnston,  the  pub- 
lishers, deserve  much  credit  for  their  enterprise." 

From  the  Richmond  Christian  Observer: 

'"The  History  of  the  First  Year  of  the  War  for  Southern  Independence' 
prepared  by  so  sprightly  and  vigorous  a  writer  as  Mr.  Pollard,  makes  a 
vo'umc  that  will  bo  read  with  eager  interest  by  tens  of  thousands.  It  gives 
an  intelligent,  connected  sketch  of  the  past  eventful  year,  prefaced  by  a  clear 
account  of  soim  of  the  causes  of  the  war.  *  *  The  book  is  an  instructive, 
entertaining  and  reliable  account  of  the  great  events  of  the  Revolution  of  '61, 
anil  should  be  very  largely  read." 


IMPORTANT  PUBLICATION. 

A  NEW   MAP  OF  THE 

STATE  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Containing  all  the   Counties,   principal    Town-,    Railroads,    1  elegraph    Lines. 

Rivers,  Canals,  and  all  other  internal  improvements.      This  is  thi*  best  Map 

Of  die  State  ever  published.      We  have    spared    no   I  make  it  per- 

It  is  gotten  Up  nil   beautiful  map  paper,  ro  -ly  h>i   Ul  to  print 

this  map  upon.     Size,  26  by  3fl  inches,  bound  in  pocket  form,  in  beautifully 
illuminated   covers.      Price     |  Sent  t<>    any   part    of  the    I 

upon  the  receipt  of  the  price. 

WEST  &  JOHNSTON,  Publishers  and  Booksellers. 

145  Main  Street,  Richmond. 


A  SPLENDID  BOOK. 

CAUSE  AND" CONTRAST; 

AN  ESSAY  OX 

THE  AMERICAN  CRISIS. 

By  T.  W.  MAC  MA  HON. 
Price  $1  00.    By  Mail  $1  25. 

Of  this  racy,  eloquent,  and  beautifully  written  work,  we  have  now  ready 
an  edition  of  TEN  THOUSAND;  a  work  wliinh  we  do  not  hesitat#  to  pro- 
nounce charming  ;is  a  poem,  and  possessing  the  interest  of  fiction,  while  its 
logic  and  facts  are  irrefutable. 

It  is  the  first  original  book  of  a  miscellaneous  character  published  in  tin- 
Confederate  States  since  the  organization  of  our  independent  Government, 
and  it   is   no  less  gracefully  than  appropriately  dedicated  to  our  first  President. 

For  such  a  publication,  in  exposition  of  the  crisis  and  of  Southern  political 
philosophy,  it  would  be  supererogation  to  bespeak  public  favor,  especially  as 
its  contents  will  warrant  general  patronage  and  approbation. 

The  following  are  commendations  by  gentlemen  who  read  portions  of  the 
manuscript : 

From  the  Richmond   Whig- 

"It  discusses,  with  rare  ability  and  learning,  the  institution  of  slavery  in  ill 
its  aspects,  as  well  as  the  social  and  political  distinctions  between  the  people 
of  the  Confederate  States  and  those  of  the  U.  S.  The  style  is  ornate,  glowing. 
and  eloquent     We  predict  that   it   will  produce  a  sensation;  take  its  pi 

among  standard  literature;   and   have   the   effect   of  banishing    from  our  midst 
the  hurtful  offspring  of  the  morbid  and  prolific,  press  of  the  North."' 

From  the  Dispatch. 

■■  We  have  read  portions  of  the  MSS.,  and  we  pronounce  it  beautiful,  excel- 
lent, and  conclusive.  We  hope  that  it  will  obtain  the  circulation  that  it 
merits,  not  only  in  America,  but  in  Europe.'" 

From  the  Examiner. 
"It  is  impossible  for  us  to  convey  to  the  reader  any  correct  idea  of  thin 
splendid  essay.  To  form  a  correct  idea  of  so  genial  ami  complete  a  produc- 
tion, it  must  be  perused;  audits  perusal  will  repay  the  reader,  as  much  a* 
one  of  Maoauley's  papers,  for  the  Edinburgh  were  wont  to  charm  the  English 
public.  Its  style  is  lofty  ;  its  logic  ii  refutable  ;  its  illustrations  pure  and  ele- 
gant, and  it-  treatment  of  the  theme  complete  from  Alpha  to  Omega.  It  will 
be  one  of  {he  first — if  not.  really  the  first — publication  of  si  miscellaneous 
character  issued  in  our  new  Confederacy.  The  publishers  will  bring  it  out  in 
excellent  Style,  and  we  bespeak  for  it  a  warm  reception,  such  as  should 
encourage  every  enterprise  calculated  to  add  to  the  lustre  of  the  South." 

We  might  continue  similar  extracts  from  the    Charleston  Mercury  and  other 
journals,   if    space    permitted.  .The   work    is    now    ready    for    delivery;  one 
octavo  volume,  pica  type,  thick  paper  cover. 
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Letters  on  the  Policy  and  Inauguration  of  the  Lincoln  War,  written  anony- 
mously in  Waslringtow  and  elsewhere,  by  EDWARD  A.  POLLARD,  of  Vir- 
ginia, author  of  "  Black  Diamonds*"  "First  Year  of  rhe  War,"  &c,  &c. 

1.  Letter  to  President  Lincoln,  written  at  Washington. 

2.  "  President  Lincoln,  "  " 

3.  "  President  Lincoln.  "  " 

4.  "  President  Lincoln,  "  near  the  Government. 
C>.  "  Editor  of ,  "  in  Maryland. 

6.  "  Secretary  Seward,  "                       " 

7.  "  President  Lincoln,  "                       " 

5.  "  Doctor  Tyog,  "  in  Baltimore. 
9.  "  General  Scott,  "  in  Maryland. 

10.  "         Mr.  Everett, 

11.  "         Mr.  Seward.  "         in  Richmond. 

Price — 50  cents. 

THE  LIFE  OF  JAMES  W.  JACKSON,  of  Alexandria,  the   Slayer  of 

Ellsworth,  .......  $     2f» 

MOZIS  ADDQMS'  LETTERS  TO   BILLY  IVVINS,  by  the  Editor  of 

the  "  Southern  Literary  Messenger,"      ....  50 

WAR  SONGS  OF  THE  SOLTTII,  Edited  by  "Bohemian,"  correspond- 
ent of  the  Richmond  Dispatch,  ....  1   00 

NAPOLEON'S  MAXIMS  OF  WAR,  ....  1  00 

PRESCIENCE.  A  Speech  delivered  by  Hon.  Beverly  Tucker,  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  Southern  Convention,  held  at  Nashville,  Tenn..  April 
13th,  L8B0,  .  .  .  .  .  ... 

A  NEW  AND  CORRECT  MAP  OF  VIRGINIA,  put  up  in  pocket  form.     2  5  ) 

THE  VOLUNTEER'S  CAMP  AND  FIELD  BOOK,  containing  useful 
and  general  information  on  the   Art  and    Science   of  War,  for   the 
leisure  moments  of  the  Soldier.     By  John  P.  CtJRRY. 
Part  1. — Field  Fortifications  and  Entrenched  Positions — Attack  and 

Defence. 
Part  2.—  Artillery   and   Artillery   Practice — Munitions   of    War   and 

•  Explosive  Substances. 
Part  3. — Hints  on  Surgery — Antidotes  for  Poisons,  &c. 
Part  4. — Cavalry  and  Cavalry  Movements. 
Part  5. — Order  of  encampment  for  Artillery,  Cavalry  and  Infantry, 

and  general  details  of  camp  duty,  cooking,  Sfcc. 
Part  G. —  Elementary    principles    of     the     Manual — Formation    of 
Company  and  Regiment.  .... 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  price  of  either  of  the   above  named  books,  we  will 
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PROFESSOR  CHISOLM'S 
MILITARY   SURGERY. 

A  Manual  of  Military  Surgery,  for  the  use  of  Surgeons  in  the 
Confederaite'States  Army ;  with  an  Appendix  of  the  Rules 
and  Regulations  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Con- 
federate States  Army.  By  J.  Julian  Chisolm,  M.D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Surgery  in  the  Medical  College  of  South  Carolina, 
Surgeon  in  the  C.  S.  Army.  Second  Edition,  revised  and 
improved. 

Price  $3  00.    By  Mail,  $3  50. 

u  We  arc  indebted  to  the  publishers,  Messrs.  West  &  Johnston,  for  a  copy  of 
the  above'vahrcible  work,  the  appearance  of  which,  in  a  new  and  improved 
edition,  we  hail  with  peculiar  pleasure,  as  it  affords  gratifying  evidence  that 
tin.'  author's  labors  have  received  their  merited  appreciation.  The  first  edition 
of  Dr.  Chisnlm's  Manual  filled  a  void  in  our  medical  literature,  which,  though 
unfelt  in  the  'piping  times  of  peace,'  became  urgently  manifest  tit  the  out- 
break of  hostilities.  Many  excellent  Physicians,  who  sought  and  obtained 
positions  in  the  Medical  Staff  of  the  army,  felt  the  need  of  some  convenient 
and  comprehensive  work,  which  should  instruct  them  in  the  peculiar  duties 
of  the  Army  Surgeon,  and  serve  them  as  a  companion  and  guide  in  the  most 
important  emergencies  of  military  practice.  Dr  Chisolm's  book  met  the 
necessities  of  the  case  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner,  as  i.>  fully  attested  by  the 
rapid  exhaustion  of  the  first  edition.  We  take  it  for  granted,  that  those 
Medical  officers  who  have  not  already  supplied  themselves  with  it,  will  not 
lose  the  present  Opportunity  of  making  it  their  vade  tncann. 

"  Probably  the  most  valuable  portion  of  the  work  is  contained  in  the  first 
four  chapters,  which  relate  to  the  hygieina  of  troops  on  the  march  and  in 
cump — i]ie  organization  and  management  of  hospitals — ^the  duties  of  the 
Surgeon  in  camp  and  on  the  field  of  battle,  &c.  In  the  remaining  chapters, 
will  be  found  a  very  full  and  excellent  account  of  the  treatment  of  gun-shot 
and  other  wounds  and  injuries,  and  their  various  complications,  constituting 
an  admirable  guide  to  the  Military  Surgeon  in  most  of  the  emergencies  which 
he  may  be  called,  upon  to  encounter.  The  regulations  of  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  army,  contained  in  the  appendix,  are  of  course  a  sine  qua  non  to 
evciy  medical  officer. 

"Messrs.  West  &  Johnston,  the  enterprising  publishers  of  tlys  city  and 
Southern  Confederacy,  deserve  much  credit  for  their  enterprising  spirit  and 
liberality  in  publishing  so  many  very  valuable  books;  anil  all  of  which  are 
published  in  the  very  best  style — ecptal  to  the  New  York,  Philadelphia,  or 
Boston  Publishing  Houses." 

The  above  notice  is  from  the  able  pen  of  Professor  Joynes,  of  the  Virginia 
Medical  College. 

Address   Orders  to 

WEST  &  JOHNSTON. 

Publishers  and  Booksellers, 

145  Main  Street,  Richmond. 


* '- '■■ 


VALUABLI; 


TJTARY  PUBLICATIONS, 


-  ')   T,Y 


WEST  &  jl 

145    I^J^XIST  STEEET:  IRICIEIIVEC  7 


GrILHAM'S  MANUAL,  for  Volunteer?  and  Militia  of  the  C< 
•  8,  new  eih'ion,  revised,  with  plati  s,  in  press. 
rUCTIONS  FOR  FIELD  ARTILLERY,  extracted  from  Gil1 
.  Volunteers  an.l   Militia, 

HI    •.     V   ARTILLERY,  with  \  , 
v  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY,  new  edit!  1  00 

THE  VOLUNTEERS  HAND- BOO  i 

LUNTELR'S  CAMP  AND  FIELD  HOOK.. 
>M  ARTILLERY,  witl 

:i;AW        FANTRY, 

CARY'S  I     .  ...  (USHER'S  PRIl 

ORP.  AN.'AL,  with  plat 

NAIOLEON'S  MAXIMS  OF  WAR,     .  1  CO 

Clli  i'ARY  SU1 

MAP 

MAI  i'H  y^ND  SOUTH  CAROLINA 

V  MAT  OF  VIRGINIA,  coni 
Towns.  Railroads,  T<  Canal 

Internal  Improvements.     Tin 
published.     We  ha  tt  i. 

en  up  on  tl     b--\  map  paper,  made   expre 
this  map  .ipon.     Size  2fi.  by  36  rrche;    bound  in  pool 
beiutlt'u'.h  Price. 

i®"  Address  0r«'>  i 

W£ST  8l  JOHNSTON, 

Publishers  and  Booksellers,  145  Main  St.,  Richao.cd, 


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